The main goal of the past few years for Air New Zealand and Qantas has been turning around the losses in their international operations. Now, there are clear signs that their revival plans are succeeding. This is particularly true for Air New Zealand, whose long-haul unit has achieved its first half-year profit in five years. While Qantas is not quite that far along, it is undeniably heading in the right direction, with its international operation shrinking its loss dramatically in its latest earnings report.

The deficit-reduction measure that went into effect March 1 cuts 7.9% from discretionary defense spending and 5.3% from non-defense discretionary spending. Surely, Washington's latest manufactured crisis will not do any serious damage, will it? Well, consider this:

Battery system redesign will require extensive tests

AW&ST: What challenges have been presented by your fleet growth? Hockin: In a short space of time, Virgin Australia has gone from operating just Boeing 737s to also operating Embraer 190s, Airbus A330s and 777-300ERs. The challenge has been around having a far more varied fleet rather than just a larger fleet. What are your heavy maintenance arrangements in Australia?

FAA is scaling back its long-term general aviation outlook, but still forecasting brisk industry growth that will be driven by higher corporate profits and increased worldwide gross domestic product.

Scott’s – Bell 47 (SB47), a Minnesota-based upgrade and modification specialist, has launched a program to restart production of an all-new variant of the venerable Bell 47 light utility helicopter.

Cessna continues to progress on its plan to bring six new or updated aircraft to market this year, rolling out the new Citation Sovereign and completing the first flight of a production TTx single-piston aircraft. The Sovereign, which sports new avionics and winglets similar to the new Citation X, comes off the assembly line just four months after Cessna unveiled the follow-on business jet at the National Business Aviation Association’s annual meeting and convention in Orlando, Fla. last fall.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is launching a search for a new president and CEO following the decision of Craig Fuller to step down from the office he has held since January 2009. Fuller, who had succeeded longtime president Phil Boyer, is only the fourth president at AOPA since the association’s inception 75 years ago.