The Australia Desk

Episode 319: Shoe horning aircraft into Amberley

Posted on October 8, 2014 by admin

Grant’s flying solo for this one after a hectic weekend of social fun. After a quick return to New Zealand news to talk about the Martin Jetpack company going for an IPO, he then covers some problems with CASA’s recent introduction of Part 61 licenses.

After that it’s on to the military and we’re wondering how the RAAF will fit their two new C17s into the available space at RAAF Base Amberley not to mention the new C27Js which we have just learned will eventually be based there as well. Anyone got a shoe horn? :)

Grant then wraps it all up with the news that the RAAF’s first two F35s have flown and are going through their acceptance flight tests before heading to Luke AFB next year for use with RAAF pilot training.

Posted in Australia Desk | Tagged Amberley, C17, C27, CASA, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, F35, IPO, issues, license, Martin Jetpack Company, New Zealand, NoSteve, Part 61, RAAF, Royal Australian Air Force, Spartan | Comments Off

Episode 318: Grant’s in NZ

Posted on October 1, 2014 by admin

In one of the shortest AusDesks of all time, Grant chats briefly with Errol Cavit & Zac Yates after the recent Wings Over New Zealand Forum meet-up in the New Zealand Warbirds hangar at Ardmore Airport near Auckland. In addition to Grant scoring a flight in a de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth, there were plenty of amazing aircraft (including a 2-seat Spitfire) and excellent presentations during the day (plus some beer at the end).

Graham Wood taxying the DH.83 Fox Moth

The two seater Spitfire was a major attraction

Attendees listening to a presentation in the hangar

Posted in Australia Desk | Tagged Ardmore Airport, Auckland, DH.83, Errol Cavit, Fox Moth, New Zealand, New Zealand Warbirds, Spitfire, Wings Over New Zealand Forum, WONZ, Zac Yates | Comments Off

Episode 317: Hey, we’re live with the Geeks!

Posted on September 24, 2014 by admin

We recorded live with the Geeks and talked about RAAF fighter pilots being deployed in an active combat area, the Women’s World Hot Air Balloon Championship, and the Great Tiger Moth Air Race in Australia.

We also joined in a few other conversations outside the scope of the Australia Desk while sitting in with the Geeks. You can hear them in the “outtakes” file also attached to this episode via the player below.

Posted in Australia Desk | Tagged deploy, Great Tiger Moth Air Race, LiveWithTheGeeks, Nicola Scaife, RAAF, Women's World Hot Air Balloon Championship | Comments Off

Episode 316: Absent Again???

Posted on September 17, 2014 by admin

Sorry folks, the dreaded day jobs & family issues have kept the boys from recording this week :(

Posted in Skipped | Tagged day job, family | Comments Off

Episode 315: 75 Years of Wirraways

Posted on September 11, 2014 by admin

Former CAC Staff in front of Wirraway A20-10

Grant’s been at the Moorabbin Air Museum for the 75th anniversary of Wirraway A20-10, the oldest surviving Wirraway in the world. The Wirraway was based on the NA-16 (which became the T6 Texan) and was made in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation.

In other news, the RAAF sends two E7A Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft to Red Flag in Alaska and the Army’s Tiger ARH simulators get a major graphics upgrade.

Posted in Australia Desk | Tagged AARG, Alaska, ARH Tiger, Army, CAC, Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, E7, Harvard, Moorabbin Air Museum, NA16, RAAF, Red Flag, simulator, T6, Texan, Wedgetail, Wirraway | Comments Off

Episode 314: Qantas Profit, oh Qantas Profit, where for art thou???

Posted on September 3, 2014 by admin

Taking advantage of the Bits N Pieces nature of this episode, Steve & Grant sneak in a longer AusDesk than usual. This time it’s back to Qantas who have announced a record loss thanks to some restructuring they’re doing as they chase a return to profitability (it’s got to happen eventually, right? :) )

They include a clip of Ross Greenwood on 2GB interviewing Alan Joyce and hitting him with some rather hard questions, all of which Joyce manages to deflect while ensuring he stuck to his key points (it’s not our fault, it’s all due to terrible external causes, we’re turning around & we’ll be profitable next year) (sound familiar??? It’s like the last few years…)

Meanwhile, Virgin Australia reports a loss (but their 737 MAXs will apparently be online in 2018 before Jetstar’s A320 NEOs) while Air New Zealand shows them all how it’s done & reports a profit.

PS: We also have bloopers for this episode which you can play via the player below:

Posted in Australia Desk | Tagged 2GB, 737, 737 MAX, A320, A320NEO, Air New Zealand, Alan Joyce, Jetstar, loss, profit, Qantas, Ross Greenwood, Virgin Australia | Comments Off

Episode 313: Deadlines & Illness

Posted on August 27, 2014 by admin

Sorry folks, Steve’s unwell and Grant’s flat out trying to meet a massive deadline so there’s no OzDesk this week :(

Posted in Skipped | Tagged CASA, deadline, illness, sick | Comments Off

Episode 312: Exercise Pitch Black 2014

Posted on August 20, 2014 by admin

Grant’s back from a week in Cairns covering Exercise Pitch Black 2014 which has brought together combat aircraft from Australia, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. Thanks to our contacts with the RAAF media department, Grant was airside at Darwin & Tindal RAAF bases getting photos and videos plus recording plenty of content for a future PCDU episode.

In amongst the many interviews Grant recorded, he spoke with Lt Col Scott Arbogast, the detachment commander for the 12 US Air National Guard F16s.

Posted in Australia Desk | Tagged Australia, Darwin, Exercise Pitch Black 2014, PB14, RAAF, RSAF, RTAF, Scott Arbogast, Thailand, UAE, US ANG, USA. F16. Air National Guard | Comments Off

Episode 311: We’re not here

Posted on August 13, 2014 by admin

Sorry folks, Grant’s just returned from a gig with Airbus in Perth and is about to head up to Darwin tomorrow for Exercise Pitch Black 2014. Meanwhile, Steve had some family matters to attend to so we had no time to record.

See you next week :)

Posted in Skipped | Tagged Airbus, Darwin, Exercise Pitch Black 2014, family, Perth | Comments Off

Episode 310: Growth is good for Brumby but not so good for TigerAir

Posted on August 6, 2014 by admin

Steve & Grant are in Sydney to shoot video for Airbus as the A350 XWB makes its first visit to Australia so where else should they record the OzDesk than beside the bizjet ramp?

TigerAir may be growing a little too quickly once again as they’ve had a couple of recent safety related incidents

Growth is good for Brumby Aircraft, an Australian light sport manufacturer who have just signed a manufacturing deal with China’s Aviation Industry Corportation (AVIC).

Posted in Australia Desk | Tagged A350, Airbus, Aviation Industry Corporation, AVIC, bizjet, Brumby Aircraft, China, growth, incidents, Sydney, Tiger Airways, XWB | Comments Off