A surprise arrival at Ardmore early this afternoon was recently registered and first of type to NZ Bell 429 ZK-IXW. It was registered to Advanced Flight at Pikes Point on 20 January 2011 and arrived at Ardmore for what appeared to be a compass swing exercise.

Does the fact the registration includes the letter XW allude to it being operated on behalf of Fay/Richwhite?
All the heliocopters this partnership have had over the years have had XW marks.

All photos Mike Condon

Placed on the register today, 2Feb11, is MD500N ZK-IPR (LN-109).  Ex N4290K, the Notar arrived at Ardmore by container last week and is destined for a South Island owner.  It features small Skysales Aviation decals on the front of the cockpit section and on the vertical stabilisers.

Above and below, ZK-IPR at Ardmore 02 February 2011, Mike Condon photos

"Last year our first Awards ceremony at Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg was a huge success, and all those attending were extremely pleased with the choice of Awards venue. There are very clear synergies between our two events. Aircraft Interiors Expo is the global market leader for the world’s aircraft interiors industry, and the World Airline Awards are known as the most respected and coveted Awards to recognise airline standards" said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax.


More than 17.9 million air travellers from over 100 different nationalities took part in the 10 month survey, between July 2009 and April 2010. The awards are respected and recognised around the world for being the only truly global, independent passenger survey of airline standards, and are known as the Passenger's Choice awards. 


Top 10 places in the 2010 Airline of the Year : 

1.  Asiana Airlines
2.  Singapore Airlines
3.  Qatar Airways
4.  Cathay Pacific
5.  Air New Zealand
6.  Etihad Airways
7.  Qantas Airways
8.  Emirates
9.  Thai Airways
10. Malaysia Airlines


2010 Top Airlines  - the Passenger's Choice awards
Airline of the Year
WINNER: Asiana Airlines

Best Low-Cost Airline Worldwide
WINNER: Air Asia

Most Improved Airline
WINNER: Garuda Indonesia

Best Regional Airline
WINNER: Dragonair

Best Leisure / Charter Airline
WINNER: Thomson Airways

Best Cabin Staff
WINNER: Singapore Airlines

Best Inflight Entertainment
WINNER: Emirates

Best Airport Services
WINNER: Thai Airways

Best Economy Class
WINNER: Malaysia Airlines

Best Premium Economy Class
WINNER: Qantas

Best Business Class
WINNER: Qatar Airways

Best First Class
WINNER: Etihad Airways

Best Airline : Transatlantic
WINNER: Virgin Atlantic

Best Airline : Transpacific
WINNER: Cathay Pacific

Best Airline : Africa
WINNER: South African Airways

Best Airline : Asia
WINNER: Asiana Airlines

Best Airline : Australia/Pacific
WINNER: Air New Zealand

Best Airline : C America/Caribbean
WINNER: TACA Airlines

Best Airline : China
WINNER: Hainan Airlines

Best Airline : Eastern Europe
WINNER: Malev Hiungarian Airlines

Best Airline : Europe
WINNER: Lufthansa

Best Airline : India/Central Asia
WINNER: Kingfisher Airlines

Best Airline : Middle East
WINNER: Qatar Airways

Best Airline : North America
WINNER: Air Canada

Best Airline : Northern Europe
WINNER: Finnair

Best Airline : South America
WINNER: LAN Airlines

Best Airline : South East Asia
WINNER: Singapore Airlines

Best Airline : Southern Europe
WINNER: Turkish Airlines

Best Airline : Western Europe
WINNER: Lufthansa

Best Airline Alliance
WINNER: Oneworld Alliance

Best Airline Lounge - Business Class
WINNER: Virgin Atlantic

Best Airline Lounge - First Class
WINNER: Thai Airways

Best Airline Seat - Business Class
WINNER: Singapore Airlines

Best Airline Seat - Economy Class
WINNER: Kingfisher Airlines

Best Airline Seat - First Class
WINNER: Etihad Airways

Best Airline Seat - Premium Economy Class
WINNER: Qantas Airways

Best Low-Cost Airline Africa
WINNER: Kulula

Best Low-Cost Airline Asia
WINNER: Air Asia

Best Low-Cost Airline Australia/Pacific
WINNER: Virgin Blue

Best Low-Cost Airline Europe
WINNER: Air Berlin

Best Low-Cost Airline India
WINNER: IndiGo

Best Low-Cost Airline Middle East
WINNER: Air Arabia

Best Low-Cost Airline North America
WINNER: Virgin America

Best Low-Cost Airline South America
WINNER: GOL

Best Onboard Catering - Business Class
WINNER: Qatar Airways

Best Onboard Catering - Economy Class
WINNER: Turkish Airlines

Best Onboard Catering - First Class
WINNER: Etihad Airways

Staff Service Excellence Award - Africa
WINNER: South African Airways

Staff Service Excellence Award - Asia
WINNER: Malaysia Airlines

Staff Service Excellence Award - Australia/Pacific
WINNER: Air New Zealand

Staff Service Excellence Award - C America/Caribbean
WINNER: TACA Airlines

Staff Service Excellence Award - China
WINNER: Hainan Airlines

Staff Service Excellence Award - Europe
WINNER: Swiss Int'l Airlines

Staff Service Excellence Award - India/Central Asia
WINNER: Kingfisher Airlines

Staff Service Excellence Award - Middle East
WINNER: Qatar Airways

Staff Service Excellence Award - North America
WINNER: WestJet

Staff Service Excellence Award - South America
WINNER: LAN Airlines 

01 Februari 2011

LCM-2000 watercraft (photo : Australian DoD)

Projects of Concern - Update

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today updated the Projects of Concern list, announcing the cancellation of the LCM2000 Watercraft project.

LCM 2000 Watercraft

This project was approved by the previous Government in 1997 and involved the construction of six watercraft for the Landing Platform Ships Kanimbla and Manoora.

The project has suffered a number of problems. Most critically, the dimensions and weight of the watercraft meant they were unsuitable to be launched from these ships and are not fit for alternative Australian Defence Force use.

Accordingly, the project has been cancelled and Defence will now begin plans to dispose of the vessels.

MRH-90 Helicopter

MRH-90 helicopter (photo : ADF)

Mr Smith and Mr Clare also announced that a high-level comprehensive diagnostic review of the MRH-90 helicopter project would occur this month.

As reported in both the Defence Annual Report and the ANAO Major Project Report released last year, the project has suffered delays of 12 months for the Navy’s helicopters and 18 months for the Army’s helicopters.

Delays are due to a series of key issues, including engine failure, transmission oil cooler fan failures and the poor availability of spares.

The former Government approved the order of 46 MRH-90s to replace the Army’s Black Hawk and Navy’s Sea King fleets.

13 MRH-90 helicopters have been accepted by Defence to date and are currently being used for testing and initial crew training.

Minister Smith said that the full diagnostic review would be supported by external specialists. It will provide recommendations to Government on the actions necessary to fully implement this important project.

Projects of Concern:

The Projects of Concern list was established by the Government in 2008 to focus the attention of Defence and Industry on remediating listed projects.

This process has been successful in remediating a number of key complex and challenging projects.

Projects are put on the list when there are significant challenges with scheduling, cost, capability delivery or project management.

Since September 2010, the Government has added two projects to the list (Electronic Support Measures upgrade for AP-3C Orion aircraft and Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missiles).

This brings the total number of projects placed on the list since 2008 to 18. Seven of these have been removed – five due to remediation and two due to cancellation.

Later this month the Minister for Defence Materiel will meet with the CEOs of companies who have projects on the list to discuss their plans to remediate the projects.

These meeting will now occur twice a year to ensure there is a focus at the top of Government, Defence and industry to remediate these projects and ultimately take them off the list.

Minister Clare also indicated he was developing plans to further strengthen the Project of Concern process. These reforms will be released in the next few weeks. The current Project of Concern list is below.

Project/ Description

-- CN10: Collins Class Submarine Sustainment and Projects
-- AIR 5077: Phase 3, ‘Wedgetail’ Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft
-- SEA 1448: Phase 2B, Anti-Ship Missile Defence radar upgrades for ANZAC Class Frigates
-- JOINT 2043: Phase 3A, High Frequency Modernisation (HFMOD) communications and data exchange capability for sea, air and land forces
-- AIR 5333: ‘Vigilare’ Aerospace surveillance and command and control system
-- JOINT 129: Phase 2, Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
– airborne surveillance for land forces
-- LAND 121: Phase 3, ‘Overlander’ replacement field vehicles, trailers and modules for land forces (‘Medium Heavy’ class of vehicles only)
-- JOINT 2070: Lightweight torpedo replacement for ANZAC and ADELAIDE Class Frigates
-- AIR 5402: Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft
– Air to Air Refuelling Capability
-- AIR 5276: Phase 8B, Electronic Support Measures upgrade for AP-3C Orion aircraft
-- AIR 5418: Phase 1, Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missiles

(Australian DoD)

01 Februari 2011

HMAS Manoora (photo : Navsourc)

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that HMAS Manoora would be decommissioned and that Defence would develop a new comprehensive plan to transition to the new Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Ships.

HMAS Manoora

HMAS Manoora will be decommissioned on the advice of Chief of Navy.

The Manoora was placed on operational pause by the Seaworthiness Board in September last year.

An examination of the over 40 year old ship has revealed it requires remediation of significant hull corrosion and the replacement of both gear boxes.

This work would cost over $20 million and would take until April 2012 to complete.

The Manoora was scheduled to be decommissioned at the end of next year.

“That is not value for money for another nine months of service,” Mr Smith and Mr Clare said.

Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD):

Canberra class LHD (image : M Conrad)

HMAS Manoora and the Royal Australian Navy’s other amphibious support ships (HMAS Kanimbla and HMAS Tobruk) will be replaced by two Canberra Class LHDs, the largest Ships ever operated by the Royal Australian Navy.

Later this month (February 18) the hull of the first LHD will be launched in Spain where it has been constructed by Navantia.

The hull will arrive in Melbourne next year for further work to be completed at the Williamstown Shipyard before the LHD becomes operational in 2014. Australia’s second LHD will become operational the following year.

The LHDs are bigger than Australia’s last aircraft carrier. Each is 230 meters long and can carry a combined armed battlegroup of more than 1000 personnel, 100 armoured vehicles and 12 helicopters. Each also includes a 40-bed hospital.

“Stepping up to this new capability is going to require a lot of work by Navy,” Mr Smith said.

“It is very different to the ships we currently operate. One LHD will effectively replace the entire amphibious force we have today. It also has a number of capabilities, such as a floating dock that the Royal Australian Navy does not currently operate.

“Because of the decommissioning of the Manoora and the age of our other amphibious ships, I have asked Defence to present a new comprehensive plan for the transition towards the new LHDs.”

Transition plan:

Comparison between (L to R) HMAS Kanimbla, ex HMAS Melbourne and Canberra class (image : RAN)

“I have asked Defence to present me with options and recommendations to ensure the smooth transition to the LHD,” Mr Smith said.

This could include the lease or purchase Ships that would provide a platform to train and prepare for the LHDs, such as a Bay Class Ship from the UK Government.

If this option is taken up it could provide for the decommissioning of the HMAS Kanimbla or HMAS Tobruk to be brought forward.

HMAS Kanimbla was also placed on operational pause by the Seaworthiness Board last year. The Kanimbla is not now expected to be available for operations until mid-2012 and is currently scheduled to be decommissioned at the end of 2014.

HMAS Tobruk is currently being maintained at a 48 hours readiness posture in order to meet Australian Defence Force preparedness requirements.

The Tobruk will be required to dock this year to replace worn-out support bearings on a propeller shaft. She is due to be decommissioned at the end of 2012.

(Australian DoD)

 Pete Kirby has sent in some pics taken at the Masterton "Wings Over Wairarapa" airshow under very trying photographic and meteorological conditions.
Here are five of them. Captions I feel are not required.

Thanks Pete.

Soon in Zagreb?

North American Airlines has been named as the charter airline interested in commencing flights from New York JFK Airport to Zagreb. The CEO of Zagreb Airport, Tonči Peović, revealed the news at a press conference last week. Zagreb is trying to attract North American by waiving landing fees. However, the two sides are still negotiating. Peović believes that the Zagreb Tourism Board should subsidise the airline by buying some 100 seats per flight. He continues by saying that the service will be profitable if the aircraft has a 65% cabin load factor. The new flights will operated either by a Boeing B757-200 or the B767-300.

North American Airlines is based at Kennedy Airport in New York. It operates scheduled flights within the United States and South America. The airline relies heavily on charters during the summer.

Talks between Zagreb Airport and North American Airlines are set to be finalised within the next few weeks.