U.S. Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole says a long overdue repair station security rule has been forwarded to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget for review, although the OMB on March 15 had yet to acknowledge receipt. Upon receipt of the rule, OMB will initiate a 60- to 90-day review, which usually is the final hurdle before a rule can be issued.
The primary trade groups for U.S. airlines and repair stations weighed in against the FAA’s proposed air carrier contract maintenance rule revision, calling the agency’s draft a duplication of existing regulations and an unjustified expansion of the congressional mandate driving the rulemaking.
The Senate today will resume its consideration of a short-term, government-wide funding bill that aviation groups are hoping will serve as the vehicle for an amendment designed to prevent mass closings of contract air traffic control towers. The FAA has stated plans to shutter up to 189 contract towers, about 75% of the program, with the bulk of the closings to occur April 7.
You can now register online for Aviation Week events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/conferences or contact: Lydia Janow, 212-904-3225 or 800-240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada only) April 16-18—MRO Americas 2013, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga. April 17-18—MRO Military 2013, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga. May 8-9—Civil Aviation Manufacturing Conference, The Renaissance Charlotte Suites, Charlotte, N.C. May 15—Aviation Week Webinar: Mitigating Weather Delays with NextGen Capabilities, 11am ET
Turkish Airlines has placed an order for up to 117 Airbus narrowbodies to support its ambitious growth plans. Under the agreement unveiled March 15, the airline has signed firm commitments for 53 A321NEOs, four A320NEOS and 24 current-model A321s. The deal also includes options for 35 A321NEOs.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes named Bob Feldman VP and general manager of 777X development and Keith Leverkuhn VP and general manager of the 737 MAX program.
JetBlue Airways has added yet another one-way code-share partner, this time Doha International Airport-hubbed Qatar Airways. Qatar, which has interlined with New York John F. Kennedy International Airport-based JetBlue since 2011, will place its ‘QR’ designator code on 26 routes from JFK and Washington Dulles International Airport, two of Qatar’s three U.S. gateways. The code-share will start once the requisite government approvals are obtained.
Click here to view the pdf Arab Air Carrier Organization Monthly Traffic: January 2013 Arab Air Carrier Organization Monthly Traffic: January 2013 RPK % Chg. ASK % Chg.
AMR Corp. is likely to emerge from its Chapter 11 reorganization in the third quarter after the company requested its last extension to file a plan of reorganization. The extension, if approved by the bankruptcy court, will give AMR exclusive rights to file a restructuring plan until May 29, 18 months after it filed for court protection from its creditors. AMR says it needs the extra time to finalize its merger plan with US Airways.
Click here to view the pdf Fuel Watch: Global Jet Fuel Prices (midpoint) As of March 13, 2012, compared with previous week and previous year cts/gal prev. week prev.
The FAA’s new 30-year forecast of passenger demand at large U.S. hub airports projects the strongest annual growth will occur at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Orlando International Airport and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The Terminal Area Forecast (TAF), which also looks at hundreds of smaller airports, bases its projections largely on national and local economics, as well as air fares and the state of the aviation industry.
The head of the U.K.’s air navigation service is urging government to take the country’s busy airspace into consideration as it examines how to build future capacity. Richard Deakin, CEO of National Air Traffic Services (NATS), says several of the leading ideas to solve London’s airport capacity problems do not take into account the challenges of the airspace around them. Officials deciding on the future of London’s airports must plan for more than just concrete and terminal buildings, he says.
The inspector general for the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) this month will begin an audit of the agency’s enforcement of rules for lengthy tarmac delays. The DOT’s rules require airlines to establish contingency plans that allow passengers to disembark if an aircraft remains on the ground for more than three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international services, although there are some exceptions for safety, security and air traffic control issues. The rules also include requirements regarding the provision of food and water.
The FAA has ordered Bombardier CRJ100 and 440 operators to replace cargo liners in baggage compartments with new kits that meet flammability requirements. The directive (AD 2013-03-22) gives operators of some 570 U.S.-registered aircraft 28 months from its effective date—or until mid-August 2015—to ensure the work is done. The FAA estimates the cost per aircraft at about $51,000, putting the U.S. fleet’s total bill at about $29.2 million. It is not clear how many aircraft already have been modified.
Lufthansa Group is emerging is one of the possible launch customers for Boeing’s proposed 777X after including the aircraft in its long-haul fleet evaluation that is expected to culminate in a decision later this year. The carrier also is looking at the Airbus A350-900/1000 and more Boeing 747-8s, company sources say, but the 787 is not under consideration, as it is too small for Lufthansa’s requirements.
China Southern Airlines views the Australia and New Zealand markets as a high priority, and plans to continue to increase service into the region, a senior airline executive tells Aviation Week.
