Transportation Industry

Aircraft News - Asia / Pacific

AirGuide Business, Feb 4, 2008

Feb 4, 2008

AirAsia, Kolej TAFE Seremban

Kolej TAFE Seremban signed an MOA with AirAsia to support maintenance engineering training at AirAsia Academy. Program includes EASA Part 66 module 1-17 training for DCA certification. Agreement offers TAFE's workshop facilities for modules 6 and 7. Feb 2, 2008

India

Indian government relaxed certain industrial foreign investment rules and now will allow foreign investors to hold 100% of MRO and training organizations dedicated to civil aviation activities. Foreign direct investment in commercial airlines will continue to be capped at 49%, with nonresident Indians allowed to hold 100% as long as no foreign airlines are participating. FDI in ground handling enterprises will be capped at 74%. Jan 31, 2008

Qantas Airways, Boeing

Qantas Airways Boeing 767 flight ground to a halt. Pilot given grounds for concern. A Qantas pilot refused to fly a Boeing 767 jet out of Sydney until a sink blocked by coffee grounds had been cleared. The pilot's action came after a water spill on a Qantas 747 flying into Bangkok last month led to the plane losing all electrical power and having to land on back-up batteries. An investigation is under way into what caused the leak. Initial reports indicate that on the January 7 Bangkok flight electrical power was lost after water from what is believed to have been a blocked sink leaked through a cracked drip tray on to the main generators. Two weeks ago, a Qantas pilot refused to fly a Boeing 767 from Sydney after discovering that a galley sink had been blocked with coffee grounds. On the pilot's insistence, maintenance staff checked the plane and are believed to have found the drip tray was cracked in exactly the same place as the troubled QF2 flight into Bangkok. Feb 3, 2008

Singapore Airlines, Airbus

Airbus A380 to make March 18 debut at London Heathrow. The A380 will make its revenue debut in Europe on March 18 when it completes Singapore Airlines Flight 308 from Changi to London Heathrow. Singapore Airlines plans to take delivery of its third A380 in mid-March and put it into service soon thereafter. Its second arrived three weeks ago. "The arrival of the first commercial A380 flight to London will be a proud moment not only for Singapore Airlines but also for British aviation, with the magnificent wings of the aircraft made in Broughton and Filton and the [aircraft] powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines," Singapore Airlines GM-UK and Ireland Marvin Tan said. The aircraft will return to Singapore the same day as SQ319. The route then will be operated daily as SQ322 to LHR and SQ317 to SIN. Seats for the route, including the inaugural flight, are on sale. Jan 31, 2008

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