The week in brief 290410

Virgin Blue's share price moved up yesterday after news that the airline was talking to Air New Zealand about "cooperation" on trans-Tasman business. Apparently the discussions have been underway for some months, but without general agreement as yet. Brett Godfrey and his board haven't exactly been in hold mode while waiting for CEO elect John Borghetti to take the helm. With Borghetti due to take over in just a few days one might have thought that there'd be a bit of a moratorium on business decisions. But that's not Godfrey's style. It will be interesting to see what new directions the airline takes once JB is in place.

Included in a comprehensive survey of the aviation industry for 2010 by Aon Aerospace is some succinct perspective: "We appear to be at a pivotal point in the evolution of the aerospace industry, with pretty much everybody looking ahead to the next twelve months and trying to work out what role they will be playing at the end of it. There is the potential for significant merger activity over the next year, some of which may already be developing beneath the surface."

Following that incident when two Northwest pilots overflew their destination by 150 miles, the FAA has called on operators to "create and enforce policies that will limit distractions in the cockpit and keep pilots focused on transporting passengers safely". Apparently those two pilots were so heavily focused on their laptops that they lost situational awareness. FAA rules already cover such situations, but the regulator obviously thought it timely to give operators a gee up.

CASA is inviting anyone involved in aircraft type certification to attend a series of workshops being held this year and next. The workshops will explain the certification regulations and processes, appropriate airworthiness standards, flight test procedures and aircraft performance requirements. Safety during flight testing will also be emphasised. The next workshop is in Canberra on 27-28 May, but another will be held in Adelaide in July and a further one in Canberra in November. Places are limited. More details via the CASA website.

ICAO has established a task force to focus on human resources planning for the industry, given the projected need for around 800,000 new pilots and engineers over the next 16 years. The task force will also consider ways to harmonise training regulations around the globe, as well as developing a regime of endorsement of training institutions and establishing competencies for pilots, engineers and air traffic controllers.

A study conducted by the US Flight Safety Foundation has found the head-up guidance system technology could have prevented, or positively influenced, almost 40 per cent of all commercial aircraft accidents over the last 13 years. Findings indicated that the benefits of HUD technology increased in accidents where the pilot was directly involved, such as takeoff, landing and loss-of-control accidents. The study found that the most important information provided was the flight path and speed error information, which provides the pilot with the instantaneous energy state of the aircraft and allows the pilot to see where the aircraft will be while maintaining an 'eyes outside' view.

Following the very successful Routes Asia event in Adelaide last week, it has been announced that Incheon International Airport will host next year's event in Seoul in March, with dates still to be specified.

Boeing is sticking with a delivery forecast for commercial airliners this year of between 460 and 465 aircraft, including the first deliveries of the B787 and the B747-8 before the close of the year.