Episode 197: A Spartan Budget

Posted on May 15, 2012 by admin

Steve & Grant are still tired after their mega-road-trip up to the Wings Over Illawarra 2012 airshow near Sydney, covering over 1,600km and an airshow in a single weekend. Still, they’re not about to let being tired get in the way of reporting on some interesting topics, including:

  • The Qantas pilots union loses an appeal in the Federal Court against their inclusion in Qantas management’s Fair Work Australia ruling to stop all industrial action, despite their actions not disrupting any flights or passengers
  • The Australian Federal government publishes their 2012/2013 budget which features:
    • Confirmation that decisions on purchasing the F35 Joint Strike Fighter & P8 Poseidon have been pushed back a few years
    • The retirement of the C130H fleet has been brought forward to this year, leaving the C130J as the only Hercules in the RAAF
    • Confirmation that 10 Aleania C27J Spartan aircraft will be purchased from the USA production line to replace the DHC-4 Caribous that were retired in Dec 2009 (a decision that has annoyed Airbus and is raising questions about the $1.4 billion total cost)
    • Departure taxes are being raised 17%, bringing the cost to leave Australia to $A55

But, that’s enough talking politics for now (no, really Steve!) although, then again, GM for PM?? Hmmmm, maybe that’s a winner??? :)

Australia Desk Episode 197 [ 8:56 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2)
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Episode 196: Wings Over Illawarra 2012

Posted on May 8, 2012 by admin

Steve, Grant & Allan have made the long haul up to the Wings Over Illawarra 2012 airshow where the weather is beautiful, the aircraft amazing and the caffeine is flowing after driving over 800km to get there. Despite the helicopters bumping rides next to the hangar, the show must go on & the following topics are discussed:

  • CASA grounds yet another animal named airline as Alligator Airways is blocked from running their scenic & charter flights in the north
  • Qantas are considering laying off 400 maintenance workers in Melbourne
  • Qantas are also delaying the delivery of two A380s to defer some costs but are increasing domestic capacity, primarily to fight off Virgin Australia
  • Word is that the Australian government has decided to push back to 2014 before they will make a decision on when to purchase their next group of 12 F35s (& maybe buy more F18F Super Hornets to help bridge the gap?)

After all this, it’s time for the crew to get back to the airshow as they have lots of content to record for the next episode of Plane Crazy Down Under.

Australia Desk Episode 196 [ 8:24 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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Episode 195: GA Allowed at Avalon Airport for a fee, a LOT of fees!

Posted on May 1, 2012 by admin

The boys are back again after skipping last week’s Australia Desk due to health & work issues (no really, it wasn’t alcohol related at all!). So, after all that rest, they’re ready to dive back into the topics, including:

  • Tiger drops its super-low-cost $1 fares (plus fees & taxes, of course) and is looking towards better use of technology to win more customers
  • The Federal Government introduces a National Airline Customer Advocate
  • Avalon Airport near Melbourne in Victoria is to allow greater GA utilisation … but check out those user fees (Grant recorded the sound of an aircraft landing at Avalon to prove it!)
  • Virgin Australia shows off its latest A330s with very sexy interiors
  • The Federal Government refuses to fully fund a trip for the 70 remaining veterans of Bomber Command in World War 2 to attend the opening of the official memorial in London (yet the Kiwi’s are sending all 55 of their veterans)
Australia Desk Episode 195 [ 10:22 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1)
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Episode 121: Floods, AGMs and Laugh Tracks

Posted on November 2, 2010 by admin

A week of heavy rains has brought flooding in the Yarra Valley so Grant’s not expecting much ballooning but the damp weather hasn’t taken the heat out of the news:

  • Qantas AGM reports no dividend this FY and its market share is down as it gets serious competition from the Middle East & Asia
  • John Borghetti expects improvements are expected for Virgin Blue over the next year along with expansion into the Asian markets
  • Approval has been given by the ACCC for V Australia to code share with Etihad
  • AirAsiaX to fly into Christchurch and Air New Zealand welcomes them

With all that being wrapped up, we hassle Dan about his suggestion that we use a laugh track. Really, as if we would! :)

Australia Desk Episode 121 [ 8:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (36)
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Episode 120: Ramp Rash, Tigers & Ballooning

Posted on October 26, 2010 by admin

Beautiful weather leads to some great hot air ballooning for Grant in the Yarra Valley but meanwhile there’s heaps of aviation news to review down under, including:

  • Australian Department of Transport tells the US DOT that the Delta-V alliance should be given anti-trust immunity because the Australia <-> US route operates under an Open Skies Agreement (like we mentioned last week)
  • V Australia 777 collides with a hangar while under tow & trying to pass an Air New Zealand 747 aircraft at LAX, leading to big problems dealing with passengers
  • Tiger Airways are charging people $30 per year to join their “Hot Fares” email list (the same thing the other airlines distribute for free)
  • Tiger getting more A320s and starting to operate from Melbourne’s Avalon airport as well as Tullamarine airport
Australia Desk Episode 120 [ 8:02 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (31)
Australia Desk Episode 120 Outtakes [ 1:11 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (30)
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