It may need a little more work before its first transatlantic flight, but it’s a notable start. The dimunitive one-seat all electric Cri-Cri, jointly developed by EADS Innovation Works, Aero Composites Saintonge and the Green Cri-Cri Association made its official maiden flight at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Thursday.

After a battle lasting for over a decade, the following verbatim transcript from yesterday’s Queensland Hansard will be causing some celebration around the Sunshine Coast: Hon. AM BLIGH (South Brisbane-ALP) (Premier and Minister for the Arts) (9.35 am) I am pleased today to update the House on the state government’s position on the Sunshine Coast’s Regional Council’s proposed relocation of the Caloundra Aerodrome. After considerable assessment, the Queensland government has formed the view that the Caloundra aerodrome should not be moved.

Papua New Guinea sources have confirmed there were four victims of the crash of the twinjet Cessna Citation P2-TAA that crashed at Misima Island in PNG’s Milne Bay Province. Trans Air part-owner Les Wright, 56, had stated during the Coroner’s inquest into the Lockhart River Metro crash that he owned one-third of the disbanded Australian airline.

All 32 Cessna 441 Conquest aircraft on the Australian register have now escaped instant or eventual grounding following the development of overhaul/modification and ongoing maintenance arrangements by Brisbane-based TAE Aviation. Its manufacturer Cessna had set the type’s life limit for airline operations at 22,500 hours after it decided not to develop an ageing aircraft maintenance program for the Conquest.

Engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce has filed an amended complaint alleging that United Technologies Corporation (UTC) has infringed the Rolls-Royce swept fan blade patent in the United States. The complaint specifically alleges that the fan stages on Engine Alliance’s GP7200 engine and on UTC’s PW1000G engine (also known as the Geared Turbofan) infringe the Rolls-Royce patent.

Global growth and increasingly sophisticated demands on emergency medical services (EMS) finally inspired Bell Helicopter to design an aircraft specifically around the EMS market‘s needs. The world’s biggest helo manufacturer was guided to the decision by helicopter operators, and not all of them Bell addicts either, but they’re happy to keep Bell up to date with market expectations and their collective wisdom. AviationAdvertiser reports on the outcome.

An Airbus-led consortium in partnership with Air France and the air navigation service providers from the UK, Canada and the US (NATS, Nav Canada and the FAA) will shortly commence ‘Transatlantic Green Flight’ (TGF) trials with an Air France A380 on revenue services from New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG). Under a recent contract from the SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) joint undertaking (SJU), the A380 TGF trials are part of the second wave the Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to reduce Emissions – “AIRE2”.

The Royal Queensland Aero Club, trading as Airline Academy of Australia (AAA), has negotiated a ground-breaking strategic partnership with Australian flight simulator manufacturer SimJET Training Systems, to use and promote SimJET’s range of simulation and flight training devices. AAA, one of the largest flight training centres in the Asia Pacific region, specialises in training pilots up to airline standard in full-time courses.

Wagga Wagga’s rich and eventful aviation history, an excellent and thriving airport that’s still a major aviation activity centre, an aviation-oriented community and a modern, regionally-focused university, have won the Riverina city selection as the site for the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame. The ambitious but well-planned initiative was announced just two weeks ago, and its three instigators attended a formal civic reception last night (Tuesday August 24) in Wagga to join some of the dots and outline the rationale of the Wagga choice

Aeromil Pacific and Bankstown Airport Limited have finalised the lease of Hangar 14 at Bankstown to expand the Cessna distributor’s presence at Bankstown. Following restoration and renovation work by BAL, Aeromil Pacific is expected to begin expanded operations from Site 521 in the last quarter of 2010. The heritage listed Site 521, adjoining the Bankstown airport passenger terminal, was built for the RAAF during World War II and is part of one of the airport’s original hangars.

Whitsunday Aviation Village Estate (Yes, WAVE.) which we covered when its home-and-hangar land packages were first launched, is now heading into its second development phase with a limited offer of five blocks, each with a beautifully designed ready-built home for a flying family and their aircraft. The new release house and hangar packages are under offer with a choice of five designs by last year’s Australian designer of the year award, Sunshine Coast based Chris Clout.

Just as Members of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia were losing hope that either of the major parties would release a transport policy before Saturday’s Federal Election, the Liberal / National Coalition today released its plan to foster Australian aviation if it wins Government this weekend. “The RAAA found it quite unbelievable that with only 48 hours to go, aviation transport issues had been ignored by the two major parties,” Paul Tyrrell, RAAA CEO said today.

CASA has partly clarified an issue that had some of our readers reaching for their cheque books, word processors or lawyers. The bad news was that air operator certificate (AOC) holders and chief pilots    had been told that if they were flying “into or out of Australian territory,” they must ensure their AOC and associated operations specifications authorised them to do so. The further bad news is that in this context at least, Australia is deemed to end just 12 nm from the coast.

Seven leading Australian general aviation Associations have launched a General Aviation Rescue Plan to highlight what they say is the lack of Government imagination and vision for the GA sector. Members of the group have already expressed grave concerns over the apparent aviation policy void on both sides of politics in the run-up to the election and have now joined forces to show what needs to be done for a sector with a strong history of nation-building achievement  and continuing potential which they believe has been ignored by government policy makers.

Australia’s biennial Safeskies conference has become the third Australian aviation organisation to receive an international distinction awarded by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI). The award is an Honorary Group Diploma for Aeronautics, and FAI is the world governing body for air sports and the monitoring and recording of aeronautical world records. It is the only body in the world with the organisational power and infrastructure to give meaningful international awards of this kind.

Qantas and Australia Post today confirmed the renewal of their joint venture partnerships, Australian air Express and Star Track Express, as well as signing a new five year mail contract with a combined value of $100 million per annum. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, said the two partners were strategically important assets and as such, Qantas and Australia Post had committed to remain equal partners in both ventures.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says a $377 underlying pre-tax profit announced today indicates a strong performance despite tough trading conditions: “While global trading conditions remained challenging, they continued to improve, and the Qantas Group has delivered a strong result, more than tripling its full year profit year-on-year. Qantas is one of the few airlines to record successive full-year profits and continues to hold an investment grade credit rating” said Mr Joyce.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce today announced changes to the management of Jetstar, the Qantas Group’s low fares carrier, “to position the organisation for future growth.” Mr Joyce said the changes would position the Jetstar brands for future growth in the expanding aviation market, particularly across the Asia region.