December 10  
USA's Boeing aircraft manufacturing company has tee'd up with local budget airline - Virgin Blue - to operate a new joint heavy-aircraft flight training centre in Brisbane

At Archerfield the light aircraft flight simulator centre is located in the airport's main terminal building where supervised training in all aspects of instrument flight is available

Previous News article on AF Simulators:- HERE

 December 8  
An Air New Zealand Boeing 767 departing Brisbane for Auckland with 200 POB had the port engine fail from an apparent rear turbine blade failure necessitating the shutting down of the engine and creating a full-on emergency at BN

"..while the plane was ascending there was a loud bang and one of the two engines shut down"

The Kiwi carrier has had bits fall off their aircraft before - previous reports start HERE

 December 12  
Boyd Munro - champion supporter of private flying in OZ - has had to call on the pilot fraternity to have a "threatening" transport safety bill deferred in the OZ Parliament

"The TSI Bill is the most threatening piece of aviation legislation in more than a decade"



The Bill was scheduled for debate in the Senate to-day but Boyd alerted his Air Safety Australia members - around 1580 of 'em - resulting in a deferment until 2003

 December 12  
The maiden flight of the French consortium's new Ariane-5 rocket failed shortly after lift-off from the South American territory of Guyana

"..it was just three minutes into the flight   when the rocket's burners cut out"

The launch failure sent two satellites, - one for European telecom group and the other for French communications - falling into the Atlantic Ocean