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Steve’s back from his trip to the USA and, despite some jet lag woes, he’s in the recording studio and the banter is flowing in our longest episode yet. Sadly, the first 15 minutes sound like Grant’s testing NASA’s new Interplanetary Internet and experiencing a really crappy connection. Not to worry, it soon clears up and the rest of the episode quite clearly reveals our usual commentary on this week’s local aviation news stories, including the following topics:

• Airlines PNG Twin Otter crash at Kokoda
  • Pilot in PNG crash had six months’ experience (Michael McKenna and Steve Creedy @ The Australian)
  • Flyers may have lost their bearings (Steve Creedy @ The Australian)
• Landing gear incidents @ Bankstown (YSBK)
  • Planes Lose Wheels (The Torch newspaper)
• Regional airlines worrying about aircraft
  • Regional airlines face plane shortage (Steve Creedy @ The Australian)
• Flying Doctor losing a contract
  • Flying doctor service loses $70m contract (Steve Creedy @ The Australian)
  • Royal Flying Doctor Service – history
  • Royal Flying Doctor Service – Wikipedia
• Steve discusses his visit to the TWiT Cottage and meeting Leo Laporte (go on gang, you *know* you’re jealous :)
• Steve clarifies that he went to Eaker AFB while in the USA but named it incorrectly during his update on the previous episode
• Steve talks about his flights with V Australia
  • Tainted Virgin Blue chicken wraps induced births (Jamie Walker @ The Australian)
  • Virgin-Delta joint venture to get a clear run (Steve Creedy @ The Australian)
• We discuss an article by Andrew McLaughlin in the July issue of Australian Aviation magazine about United Airlines fighting to retain share on the Pacific route
• Tiger is taking steps to improve its image
  • Airline complaints head sky-high (Clive Dorman @ The Age)
• V Australia wants to fly to Fiji
  • V Australia applies for Fiji route (Greg Waldron @ Flight Global)
• Grant talks about his experiences going to Sydney for the SimpliFlying/PCDU Tweet Up along side the Asia Pacific Aviation Outlook Summit 2009 conference
• QANTAS links its frequent flyer program to the Woolworths loyalty program
  • Qantas loyalty deal with Woolies a big seller (Steve Creedy @ The Australian)
• AirAsiaX news
  • Capital city rivals out to land Asia (Steve Creedy @ The Australian)
  • AirAsiaX will boost its Gold Coast route
• Malaysia Airlines getting stung by low cost carriers
  • Discount rivals hit MAS results (Geoff Easdown @ The HeraldSun)
• Laser taggers arrested
  • Laser pointer accused faces court (ABC News)