After NT spent millions on aircraft, operations move offshore

Topic: Air Transport Industry

The Albatross 2.0 can land on sea and snow. It may be made someday.

In short:

A new kind of plane called the Albatross 2.0 was supposed to be built in NSW and Darwin. But now its main work will be done outside Australia.

The old NT government gave $3 million to the project. They said the plane would be made in Darwin by 2025.

What’s next?

The company making the Albatross 2.0 says it is still working on the project. Some people think the plan is silly and won't work.

This plane was supposed to be a big deal for Australia's manufacturing. It would bring many jobs and over $100 million to the NT.

The plan was to build a new version of an old plane that can land on water and snow. It wouldn't need a runway.

It's been almost five years since the NT government invested in the Albatross 2.0. There's no sign of progress yet.

Here's what the Albatross 2.0 might look like.

The current government says the company has moved its main work outside Australia.

The company says it's moving because it's hard to get approval from the aviation authority in Australia.

But the authority says the company never asked for approval.

The company bought a hangar in Darwin, but it has been sold now.

The company says it still wants to work in the NT.

The company says the project is still happening and they hope to see the Albatross 2.0 in Darwin one day.

What's next for the Albatross 2.0? What about the NT's investment?

Albatross' bumpy flight path

The company didn't always plan to build the plane in the NT.

In 2016, the company wanted to build the plane in NSW. It would bring 1,000 jobs and $100 million.

But that plan didn't work out. The company made a new deal with the NT.

Here's what the company's facility in NSW might have looked like.

The NT government gave the company $3 million and a $7 million loan.

The government said the project would bring many jobs and money to the NT.

The company said it would get approval from the aviation authority within 18 months.

In 2022, a rich man bought the first Albatross plane. It was supposed to be made by 2025.

The company was supposed to start making planes in Darwin by 2025.

The company used some of the loan to buy a hangar in Darwin, but it has been sold.

The NT still has its $3 million investment in the company.

The company says the NT's investment is still valid even if they move.

The company says the NT government's investment is part of an ongoing project.

An old Albatross plane was taken to Darwin to be modified.

The company says it still has its headquarters in Darwin and is working on the project.

But when we visited the headquarters, it seemed empty.

The company says it's looking for money and opportunities in the US, but Darwin is still important.

The government says it's still watching the company's progress.

The company's headquarters seems empty.

'Snake oil salesman stuff'

A former politician says he was worried about the project from the start.

He thinks the project is silly and won't work.

He questions whether the government did its research before investing.

The former politician says the project is 'snake oil salesman stuff'.

He thinks the NT government often makes the same mistakes.

The company says it's working to get approval in the US.

It hasn't built an Albatross 2.0 yet.

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