The Week in Brief 08 September 2011

Virgin Australia is appprently in a testing phase with technology that can provide in-flight wi-fi; but the airline has said that if it proceeds the technology will not be used for internet access but rather the streaming of in-flight entertainment.

BARA has signed a two-year contract extension with Unisys for an advanced baggage reconciliation system at seven major Australian airports. The A$11 million deal currently covers up to 17.5 million bags on international flights to and from the country.

GE has joined Virgin Australia and a consortium of other partnesr to research and develop commercial biofuel for the aviation industry. The research will focus on pyrolitic conversion of biomass from mallee trees. It plans to have a pilot production unit operating by the end of next year.

The world's biggest turboprop aircraft lessor, Nordic Aviation Capital, is taking an interest in Australia, in the wake of ATR's breakthrough order with Virgin Australia. Nordic has joined the Regional Aviation Association of Australia and will have a presence at this week's RAAA Convention in Coolum on the Sunshine Coast.

The new managing director of Boeing Aerostructures Australia, John Duddy, has also been appointed chairman of the Australian Association of Aviation and Aerospace Industries. Former chairman, Mark Ross, is returning to Seattle to take a new position with Boeing.

Aon reports that airline insurance claims at the end of July are down to 36 percent on the same period last year, despite three accidents in three days right at the end of the month. The loss figure after seven months (excluding minor losses) was US$367 million. 

The FAA has granted a private firm, Orbital Sciences Corp, a licence to launch a demo flight to the International Space Station in February next year. Orbital is one of two US companies looking to take over the space shuttle runs to resupply the Space Station.