Australian based Virgin Blue cabin crew will this week compete for spots on a brand new cultural job swap program between Virgin Blue and US based domestic carrier, Virgin America. In October the six successful applicants will fly to the US and will be integrated into the Virgin America crew roster. Flying from the airline’s San Francisco base, the visitors will fly across all Virgin America routes in the United States from San Diego to Seattle.

Brisbane-based SME Ferra Engineering has been selected from more than 20 global suppliers to provide parts for Boeing’s 747-400 Material Services Business. Ferra has been awarded a five-year build-to-order contract for 50 unique machined Boeing 747 components.

Ferra was identified as a potential supplier by the Boeing Office of Australian Industry Capability (OAIC), which was established with support from the Defence Materiel Organisation’s (DMO) Industry Division.

Airbus Industrie’s A330-200F has been granted type certification today by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) following a successful 200-hour flight-test campaign. The trials were performed by two aircraft, covering both engine types on offer: Pratt and Whitney’s PW4000 and the Rolls-Royce Trent 700

Boeing said today it had concluded structural tests to validate the load bearing strengths of its B 787 Dreamliner’s wings and fuselage. Ultimate load wing and fuselage bending tests on March 28 saw the aircraft’s composite wings flexed to a height of 7.6m (25 feet).

Boeing has awarded Melbourne-based Production Parts Pty Ltd a one-year contract to provide rudder pedal kits for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The contract also gives Production Parts options on future contracts Boeing receives from the U.S. Navy and international customers.

A Qantas Boeing 747-400 returned to Bangkok with one engine shut down about an hour after takeoff for London Heathrow early this morning. A replacement 747 is being flown to Bangkok from Sydney and the 335 passengers on board are now enjoying an unexpected day in Singapore in hotel rooms provided by Qantas.

Hawker Pacific and its joint venture partner, the Shanghai Airport Authority, officially opened their new business aviation facility at Shanghai’s Hongquiao airport on March 27.  The Shanghai Airport Authority is the operator of the city’s two airports that are amongst the busiest in China.  Initially, the joint venture is providing FBO services, including full customs, quarantine and immigration services to passengers, as well as aircraft hangarage.

Australasia’s front-line airlines – Air New Zealand, Qantas and Virgin Blue – have joined forces with Boeing and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) to commission a “world first study” aimed at accelerating the development and commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel in the region.

Virgin Group’s Sir Richard Branson can be expected to be even more than usually full of beans when he steps ashore at Melbourne International tonight at around 6.15pm. As we write he’s enroute from Johannesburg on a “celebration flight” with guests including South African based media and tourism identities.

Another US Airways Airbus struck a flock of Canada geese yesterday, shortly after takeoff from Greater Rochester, N.Y. for Charlotte, N.C. This time however the crew of the Airbus A319 lost the use of only one engine and was able to return and land at its departure airfield without further damage to the aircraft and with its 124 passengers unharmed.

Airbus Industrie will increase its single-aisle A320 Family monthly production rate from the current rate of 34 to 36, starting in December. Airbus says its decision to raise its single-aisle production rate is driven by the continuing demand and a record order backlog in excess of some 2,300 A320 Family aircraft.

John Holland Aviation Services (JHAS) today signed a five year contract to provide comprehensive fleet management services to Menzies Aviation’s fleet of ground support equipment (GSE). Under the agreement, JHAS will service, maintain and support over 1200 units of GSE at airports throughout Australia and New Zealand.

EADS and the defence ministers of its customer nations have reached what the aerospace giant describes as “a principle agreement” to amend the contract covering its troubled A400M military transport aircraft. The intention is to amend the original contract in the coming weeks, says EADS. The statement has set out the four commitments now offered by customer nations.

LAN Airlines has restored services between Sydney and Santiago, Chile, following last weekend’s devastating earthquake in Chile. Flight LA 801, the first flight since Sunday February 28, will arrive tomorrow morning, Saturday 06 March at approximately 7.30am.

Boeing will offer its “NewGen” Tanker in the KC-X competition to supply the U.S. Air Force with a multi-mission aerial refueling aircraft that will meet all the Service’s mission requirements for the next several decades.  Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said Boeing’s tanker will satisfy all mandatory Air Force requirements and offer an American-made tanker that will be capable, survivable, and combat-ready at the lowest cost to the taxpayer.

Enstrom Helicopter Corporation will be providing sixteen 480B advanced turbine training helicopters for the Royal Thai Army. The 480B was selected in a competitive bidding process that included aircraft from seven different major manufacturers. The deal follows a visit last October to Enstrom of a Thai Army officials led by Major General Pittaya Krachangwong, who inspected Enstrom’s manufacturing facilities and flew the different models of Enstrom helicopters.

Virgin Blue Holdings Limited today reported a net profit after tax of $62.5 million for last year’s second half, compared to a loss of $101.4 million for the prior corresponding period.  Group revenue was up 12.2% from $1.35 billion in the previous equivalent reporting period to $1.51 billion for the six months to 31 December 2009, with Underlying Profit Before Tax (PBT) of $75.6 million up 34% compared to the prior period.

In advance of Transport Canada certification, the first new-production DHC-6 Series 400 Twin Otter has taken its initial flight from Viking Air’s final assembly facility in Calgary, Alberta.  “Built for the bush,” the 18-20 passenger DHC-6 Twin Otter in its earlier forms has a long history with air carriers in Australia and Papua New Guinea, and has carried the logos of Ansett, TAA/Australian Airlines, Bush Pilots Airways/Air Queensland, Aero Pelican and Talair among others.