FAA last week ordered 737-600 and -700 operators to change procedures so that speedbrake use is not allowed above 300 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). The emergency directive was triggered by an April 5 incident in which a 737-700 descending through 19,500 feet at 315 KIAS experienced heavy vibrations when the speedbrakes were deployed. The plane landed safely. FAA and Boeing concluded that the vibration was due to a "limit cycle oscillation" of the elevator and elevator tab assembly attached to the horizontal stabilizer.
Destina.ca named Jim Ohlsson VP-operations, Anthony Doyle VP-business development and partner relationships, Denise Chartrand VP-marketing and Robert Payne VP-finance.
Alaska Air plans to record a one-time gain due to an increase in the value of its fuel hedge position. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the spike in fuel oil prices between Feb. 28 and March 31 caused the hedges to be more valuable. As of March 31, about 21% or $3.1 million of the company's hedge positions are considered "ineffective" under current accounting standards and will be recognized in earnings as non-operating income.
To list an event, fax information to Donna Thomas at 202-383-2438. (Bold-faced type indicates new calendar listing.) APRIL 15-16 -- 10th FAA General Aviation Forecast Conference, "Into the 2nd Century of Powered Flight," Hyatt Regency Wichita, Wichita, Kan., 724-776-4970, fax 724-776-0869 APRIL 15-19 -- Air Line Pilots Association, International Aviation Security Academy, Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside, San Diego, 703-689-4219, fax 703-464-2104 e-mail trynovichb@alpa. org
American CEO Don Carty last week warned for the second straight quarter that the airline's financial losses "are not going to be pretty," adding that the industry's recovery is proceeding at a painfully slow pace.
FlightSafety International's (FSI's) Houston Hobby Airport training center got FAA Level D certification for two Embraer ERJ-135/145 simulators. Built by FlightSafety Simulations, they are the third and fourth ERJ simulators at the facility. FSI also got Level D certification for a VITAL-9 visual system -- which offers greater simulation capability -- on an ERJ simulator in St. Louis.
FAA must hire "at least" 500 inspectors and 100 safety support staffers to make the Air Transportation Oversight System (ATOS) "successful," Professional Airways Systems Specialists President Michael Fanfalone said. Adding to the challenge: It takes "no less than three years" of training to go from new hire to ATOS team member, he said.
America West recently selected Phoenix-based Moses Anshell as its full-service advertising agency as part of project to revamp its advertising efforts. The new company will redesign and implement an ad program that will focus on America West's operational turnaround and success as Phoenix's hometown airline.
Air Transport Association presented its Nancy Cunningham Award of Excellence to Aviation Librarian Marion Mistrik for nearly three decades of "loyalty, professionalism, trustworthiness, dedication and pursuit of excellence." Destina.ca named Jim Ohlsson VP-operations, Anthony Doyle VP-business development and partner relationships, Denise Chartrand VP-marketing and Robert Payne VP-finance.
Salomon Smith Barney identifies four major airports that are "on the cusp of becoming full-fledged hubs" -- Boston Logan, JFK, Orlando and San Jose. Although Southwest's top five markets grew faster than the nationwide average for hubs, and are exhibiting "hublike characteristics," they should not yet be classified as hubs as connectivity is too low, the report said.
JetBlue on Friday recorded one of the most successful airline initial public stock offerings in history, as the carrier's shares soared 67% above its asking price. JetBlue's stock closed at $45.00 per share on the Nasdaq market, after listing at $27 per share and recording an opening trade of just over $37 per share. More than 14 million shares of JetBlue stock traded hands on Friday, more than all other U.S. major airlines combined.
FlightSafety International's (FSI's) Houston Hobby Airport training center got FAA Level D certification for two Embraer ERJ-135/145 simulators. Built by FlightSafety Simulations, they are the third and fourth ERJ simulators at the facility. FSI also got Level D certification for a VITAL-9 visual system -- which offers greater simulation capability -- on an ERJ simulator in St. Louis.
Air Transport Association presented its Nancy Cunningham Award of Excellence to Aviation Librarian Marion Mistrik for nearly three decades of "loyalty, professionalism, trustworthiness, dedication and pursuit of excellence."
Hawaiian Airlines plans to launch daily nonstop flights between Honolulu and Phoenix on Oct. 11. The new flights will be operated with Boeing 767-300ERs in a two-class configuration. With the added Phoenix service, Hawaiian will have grown its transpacific service to 13 daily nonstop flights between eight West Coast points and Hawaii. Hawaiian on March 15 launched daily nonstop service between Seattle and Maui and recently announced new nonstop service to Sacramento and Ontario, California, effective June 7.
Ailing German regional carrier Augsburg Airways has reached an agreement in principle with Lufthansa on close cooperation that is scheduled to start May 1. Details of the deal still are being negotiated, the airline stated. Augsburg is expected to continue flying in Team Lufthansa branding but will do so on a wet-lease basis. The carrier previously operated its own network from Augsburg, 40 miles from Munich, as well as flights on behalf of Lufthansa, but maintained greater commercial independence.
DHL Worldwide Express has resumed construction of a $213 million sorting facility at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, aiming for completion by June 30, 2003. The company halted construction a year ago during the height of the business downturn. It has operated a sorting facility on the Cincinnati airport grounds since 1983. Plans call for a doubling of current package-handling capacity of 1.3 million pounds a night to about 2.5 million pounds. Officials said the facility will be the largest in DHL's global network.
House Transportation aviation subcommittee on Thursday will begin mark-ups on three aviation-related bills -- NTSB reauthorization, ATC contract towers and streamlining the airport construction process. So far, only the ATC bill, H.R.1979, has been introduced. Bills on NTSB reauthorization and airport construction are expected just before or immediately after the mark-up session.
U.S. airlines this week are expected to report a total net loss of about $2 billion for the first quarter. While better than the deep fourth quarter deficit, the result will be the second-worst in industry history, according to UBS Warburg. "All vital signs are improving, though some patients may still seek life support," said analyst Sam Buttrick. Southwest is the only major expected to be profitable.
Southwest's top three executives last year took home the lowest salaries since 1999 despite the fact that the airline was the only one to post a profit last year. Chairman Herb Kelleher, CEO Jim Parker and President Colleen Barrett voluntarily gave up their salaries from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31., in response to the "severe financial challenges facing the company." Even without a paycheck during much of the fourth quarter, Kelleher received a salary of $356,250 and a $196,000 bonus. He relinquished his role as president and CEO last June. Lowest Salary
30 years ago April 18, 1972 -- FAA confirmed Lockheed's claims by certifying that the L-1011 TriStar, which began deliveries April 5, is the quietest of the widebody jets. 10 years ago April 20, 1992 -- Creating a single U.S.-U.K. market is too little, too late, British Airways Deputy Chairman Colin Marshall said, advocating negotiating on a "much broader European basis...by this I mean there would be an end to individual bilateral agreements" involving European Community nations. Five years ago
NTSB, seeking to gather as much data as possible that might explain what happened to American Flight 587, is carefully probing a number of Airbus aircraft incidents involving high lateral loads. The latest incident to catch the board's eye: uncommanded rudder movements and other problems with a Singapore Airlines A340-300 just two weeks after Flight 587, an Airbus A300-600, was involved in a scenario that ripped off its tail.
America West recently selected Phoenix-based Moses Anshell as its full-service advertising agency as part of project to revamp its advertising efforts. The new company will redesign and implement an ad program that will focus on America West's operational turnaround and success as Phoenix's hometown airline.
