Airways Ltd Research Articles

Major court and tribunal decisions in Australia in 2021

This 2021 annual survey of Australia's significant court and tribunal decisions spans five key areas. First, the focus is on the High Court's clarification around how employment status is to be determined. Secondly, it examines decisions that have continued to arise out of the Coronavirus pandemic with respect to dismissals stemming from mandatory vaccination policies, an employer's liability in respect of an employee's death caused by Coronavirus, as well as a series of cases involving Australia's major airline, Qantas Airways Ltd (Qantas). Thirdly, consideration turns to developments in general protections and the first application for a stop sexual harassment order made to the Fair Work Commission. Fourthly, it reviews recent decisions concerning out-of-hours conduct and connection to employment. Finally, decisions giving rise to record penalties for contraventions of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) are evaluated.

Nobby Clark: Keith S. Clark (1921–2008) Graphic designer, illustrator, writer and artist

Gerry Barton and I encountered Nobby Clark during our research for Coral Route; Tasman Empire Airways Ltd, Flying Boats and the South Pacific which was published in 2015 – Air New Zealand’s 75th anniversary year.1 The book provided a wonderful opportunity to explore Nobby’s works and showcase surviving examples of his contributions to the development of TEAL visual identity. This paper expands on that account.

No flight, no supply - Qantas Airways Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation

This case note examines the Federal Court decision in Qantas Airways Limited v Commissioner of Taxation, which considered what the ‘taxable supply’ is, if any, in relation to domestic air travel, where the passenger cancels or does not show up for a flight, and does not obtain a refund. The case note examines how, despite a potentially absurd outcome, the decision is sound and, if upheld by the High Court, may catalyse a change in the law.

"Pleasing homogeneity," "Dull times," and "animated cocktails": New Zealand Architecture in the 1930s

New Zealand in the 1930s began in mid-depression. Substantial rises in unemployment were recorded early in the decade, and an unemployment tax was introduced in 1930 to pay for unemployment relief. 1930 was also the same year that the beginnings of commerical aviation in New Zealand occurred. The first trans-Tasman airmail service dates from 1934, with TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - now known as Air New Zealand) being established in 1939. This increasing significance of aviation in New Zealand during the decade was reflected in Hean's 1935 article "Airports" in the Journal of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. In 1931 relief camps were set up for the unemployed, and unemployed riots occurred in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. In June 1932 the NZIAJ noted that "[t]he almost complete cessation of building has had its inevitable result on employment of those connected with building - most of them are out of work, some are casually employed, and only a very few have any regular employment," while the following issue remarked that "[i]n the troublous times which have come upon us during the past fourteen years since the Armistice, not least among economic difficulties has been the high cost of building." This context lead to building subsidies and the Allied Building Industries Movement. By 1936 the normal working week was reduced from 44 hours to 40 hours.

Munich: the cost!

One of the most enduring images of 20th‐century British history is of Neville Chamberlain descending the steps of a shining new aircraft, triumphantly waving that fateful ‘piece of paper’. But another scrap of paper related to Chamberlain's flight to Munich—British Airways Ltd's bill for the return flight—sheds light not only on Britain's developing civil aviation industry but also on relations between Whitehall departments. The question of which department should be responsible for the bill dragged on for several months, revealing Whitehall's determination that the expenditure should be correctly attributed.

Laker Airways Ltd, v. Department of Trade

Laker Airways Ltd, v. Department of Trade

Safety hardware discussed at the BALPA conference

OF THE SEVERAL PAPERS read at the symposium of the British Airline Pilots Association on safety, three speakers predominantly concerned themselves with safety through hardware rather than flight routine and the human factor. Mr. S. C. Caliendi of Hawker Siddeley Aviation was concerned with the part the designer can play in safety and particularly in ensuring adequate feedback of information and experience gained from aircraft in service. Mr. L. J. W. Hall of the Airworthiness Division of the Civil Aviation Authority, speaking on “Safety Margins and Aircraft Performance” gave a certain amount of thought to the development or improvement of equipment for enabling the pilot to make decisions. Finally Mr. Milton Lalas of Qantas Airways Ltd actually listed specific equipment and suggested how it could be improved.

British Official Accident — Report

AN accident occurred in Mozambique Harbour, East Africa, on May 1, 1939, involving the Empire Flying Boat G‐ADVD “Challenger,” belonging to Imperial Airways Ltd. Two members of the crew were killed and the remaining four and one of the passengers injured. An investigation was made by an Air Ministry Inspector of Accidents.