March 14  2007
After more than 30 years at Archerfield and more recently at Redcliffe airport - the Gordon Bradberry operated Arena Aviation has gone into voluntary liquidation

Arena was one of Queensland's top flying schools and an OZ registered training organisation and flying training provider for aviation students at Griffith University

Arena moved from Archerfield to Redcliffe airport back in September 2006 - the News Desk report of that move back then is HERE

News Desk Comment

It would appear to the News Desk that the cost of shifting the complete flying training operation from Archerfield to Redcliffe was more than what the company could stand - the profit margins of most general aviation based operators are 'slim' - even after surviving in the flying training industry for more than 30 years!

And after 30 years at Archerfield the Bradberry constructed Arena buildings were worth ZERO $'s

March 15  2007
A 10-year island lease negotiated with the Torres Strait Island communities to trial a new "Surface-wave Extended Coastal Area Radar" on Dauan Island in the north of OZ has all been in vain - the Government scrapped the 2 year-old $23M project recently as the radar could not detect small boats and aircraft - used for illegal immigration and poaching - in all types of weather conditions

Media reports have the "trial" by Customs and the OZ Defence Department costing $16.9 million with an additional $3 million expected to be spent for "equipment and site restoration"

News Desk Comment

Current radar "over-control" of private light aircraft in OZ seems to be at odds with this failed project

March 18  2007
An Australian C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft carrying the OZ Prime Minister John Howard and Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston chief of the Australian Defence Force - was forced to declare a PAN call shortly after take-off from the Talil military airbase 310 km south-east of Baghdad last week

The cabin started filling with smoke - all 30 persons on board donned oxygen masks as a precaution


Normal emergency procedures were activated - all were evacuated safely and in record time after the machine came to a stop on the main runway

March 19  2007
A single-engine light aircraft with 4 persons on board apparently had an engine problem shortly after take-off at Roma and "crash-landed" about 200 metres from the departure runway

"The female pilot landed the plane in a paddock and it went through a fence on to Euthulla Road and overturned" - all four on-board escaped without serious injuries - the pilot was uninjured