The recent Force Structure Review by the Australian Defence Force has highlighted the potential of both a Ready Reserve and, perhaps more importantly for readers of this magazine, an active Air Force Reserve for aircrew reservists to bolster Australia’s defence capability. Neither scheme however is a novel idea, as can be demonstrated by a study

 Eastwest’s Knuckles Rapped: Eastwest has received a caution from the CAA for failing to report a safety incident within the required 48 hours. The incident occurred in late December last year when one of the airline’s BAe 146s aborted a landing in rough weather at Hamilton Island and flew too close to a mountain. The

Essendon Out, Point Cook In?: An economic impact study conducted by Essendon City Council has concluded that Melbourne’s Essendon Airport should be shut down and redeveloped for housing, business and industry, and that the flying activity it currently supports should be transferred to what is now the RAAF base at Point Cook. The report claims

Decoys Deceived Iraqi Defences: A large number of the Allied aircraft claimed as destroyed by Iraq were in fact US Navy Tactical Air Launched Decoys (TALDs). The decoys were used by US Navy A-6, F/A-18, A-7 and S-3 aircraft during strikes against Iraqi targets. The decoys take up the same space as a 500lb (227kg)bomb