FAA is developing a regulation and advisory circular concerning engine seizure and engine torque loads, saying the old rule does not adequately cover modern turbofans.In the meantime, the agency says that a "special condition is needed to establish appropriate criteria" for the engines on the Boeing 767-400ER.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission has agreed at FAA's request to extend from May 21 to June 9 the deadline for comments on aircraft noise restrictions at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The commission served notice in early May that it proposes an ordinance to prohibit operation of aircraft exceeding the noise limits for Stage 3 aircraft as of Jan. 1, 2000. FAA said it requested a lengthened comment period because of the late publication of the notice.
Frontier has been authorized to list on the Nasdaq National Market, effective immediately. The airline's stock had been traded on the Nasdaq SmallCap market. Frontier's stock will retain the FRNT ticker symbol. Frontier President Sam Addoms said the announcement marks "another step forward in creating a strong capital structure and adequate investment liquidity" for shareholders.
DOT Secretary Rodney Slater met yesterday with House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) to discuss issues surrounding a potential TWA strike. Management and the International Association of Machinists, representing flight attendants and mechanics, are in a 30-day cooling off period that began May 11.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers International Traffic October 1998 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles % (000) Change (miles) (000) Change Alaska 65 24.05 1,119 72,896 25.24
United has contacted 4,000 business partners and suppliers, including recent meetings with Pratt&Whitney and Boeing, to determine their Year 2000 readiness. The airline has passed more than 150 milestones for Y2K compliance and expects no service disruption from upgrades and changes. The Apollo computer reservations system is operating "trouble-free" to book tickets next year, United said, and the carrier also has tested and validated ground-to-air communications in the Y2K environment.
China Airlines opposes a proposal to require foreign air carriers to have in their home airports security measures identical to those required of U.S. airlines at U.S. airports. "An FAA requirement that foreign airlines employ, at airports in their home countries, the exact procedures, facilities and equipment required by the FAA of U.S. airlines would be an unlawful, extraterritorial application of U.S. jurisdiction and would be wholly inconsistent with U.S. international obligations," China Airlines said.
Hawaii asked DOT for expanded operating flexibility and economic incentives intended to increase U.S. and foreign carrier activity at Honolulu and Kona, its two international airports, in an attempt to offset tourism and air cargo declines caused by Asia/Pacific economic instability. The state wants DOT to grant blanket exemptions for service via Hawaii to foreign carriers that hold or obtain DOT authority, including authority to move cargo through Hawaii from Asia/Pacific points and the U.S.
Atlantic Coast Airlines has repurchased 423,000 shares of its common stock in the open market. It may continue to purchase shares in open-market or private transactions, depending on market conditions, pursuant to its previously announced stock buyback program. As of May 3, ACA had 19,513,323 shares issued and outstanding.
Northwest is launching onboard domestic entertainment June 1. Programming will be available on video-equipped aircraft on flights three hours or more. A portion of the $1 passenger charge for headsets will go toward the Northwest AirCares charitable assistance program.
United inspected 44 of its 75 Boeing 727s for fuel tank wiring, as mandated by FAA, and found no defects.American tested 60 of 76 727s with the same result. United said it takes two to three hours to examine all eight boost pump installations on a 727. One quarter of all 727s are used by cargo airlines.
United has added Internet perks for its Mileage Plus members, including the ability to redeem award miles for domestic travel online and view real-time account updates through the carrier's web site, www.ual.com. New frequent flyers can use the site to enroll in the Mileage Plus program.
Japan Airlines and British Airways said yesterday they will link frequent flyer programs beginning June 1. BA subsidiary Deutsche BA is part of the pact. Domestic U.K. travel will be eligible as of July 1. BA's frequent flyers will be able to accumulate miles on JAL's domestic flights as of July 1 as well.
COPA Airlines of Panama over the weekend took delivery of the first of 12 Boeing 737-700s on order or lease. The first airplane, delivered on lease from Tombo Aviation Services, also featured a new company image resulting from a recently formed alliance between COPA and Continental. COPA earlier this year announced an order for eight 737-700s as well as plans to lease four more, two from Tombo Aviation Services and two from GE Capital Aviation Services.
Northwest has launched a summer fare sale encouraging travelers to bring along up to two children on domestic flights for $69 each way, based on roundtrip purchase. Tickets must be purchased by June 4 for travel through Sept. 7. All passengers must travel together. The deepest discounts are available for travel Tuesday and Wednesday. For Florida, the best discounts are Sunday through Wednesday to Florida and Tuesday through Friday from Florida. Northwest also is promoting deals on travel to Europe and Asia.
Aer Lingus will start Los Angeles-Ireland service Friday with three flights a week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday using a new Airbus A330-200 delivered May 7. The aircraft features a two-class configuration - premier and economy. Aer Lingus plans to increase service on the route to five times weekly by next year. With introduction of the West Coast service, Aer Lingus will expand its transatlantic capacity by more than 20%. The Los Angeles service also will provide access to Ireland from Australia and New Zealand. Los Angeles is Aer Lingus's fifth U.S.
Singapore Airlines made its ninth arrangement for the sale/leaseback of a Boeing 747-400. The latest was with Lease Holding III, a Singapore-based company owned by Bank of America, for a nine-year, eight-month lease.
KLM yesterday backed away from its plan to acquire 100% of fellow Dutch carrier Martinair after the airlines failed to satisfy the European Commission's scrutiny. KLM owns 50% of Martinair and had proposed to acquire the remaining 50% from Nedlloyd. "The Commission has expressed serious doubts whether the transaction met the requirements of European Union rules on competition," KLM said. The carrier made several proposals to ensure Dutch domestic competition, but the EC was not satisfied.
British Airways yesterday posted a stunning pre-tax loss of #85 million (US$137 million) in the January-March quarter as earnings for fiscal 1998 plunged 55%. While the carrier was expected to post lower earnings, the March quarter loss is its first in recent memory. In the first three months of 1997, BA reported an operating loss of #97 million but recorded a net profit for the period. In the most recent quarter, BA had a net loss of #73 million (US$117 million), compared with a profit of #72 million in the first three months of 1998.
FAA has followed up its airworthiness directive on Boeing 727 fuel tank wiring with a more comprehensive order for wiring inspections (DAILY, May 25). The agency will require operators to remove and inspect wire bundles carried in conduits through 727 fuel tanks. If chafing is found, the wires must be replaced. The latest order also requires that all the wires be wrapped with an additional protective layer of Teflon. FAA said this must be done immediately provided the Teflon wrapping is available. Otherwise, it must be done at the next scheduled maintenance check.
The U.S. is "working or planning to work" with all four countries holding an ownership stake in Gulf Air, according to an administration official. On Monday, the U.S. signed an open-skies agreement with Bahrain, hailed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Marchick as a "tangible sign...of Bahrain's commitment to aviation sector liberalization." Last week, the U.S.
United's Air Line Pilots Association unit Master Executive Council yesterday discussed an airline proposal to modify the union/management letter of agreement on regional jet flying and potentially expand the company's regional operations. The company presented the proposal to the MEC May 5. United ALPA spokesman Madison Walton emphasized that the two sides are not in negotiations about the proposal.
Austin-Bergstrom Airport, Texas, a converted Air Force base, opened last weekend, handling 17,000 passengers on its first day of commercial operations. The $585 million facility, which takes over from the now-closed Robert Mueller Municipal, has 25 gates, with room to expand to 55, and an airfield whose longest runway measures 12,250 feet. Southwest and American are the largest carriers at the airport with 33% and 29% of enplanements, respectively. General Aviation users were the only group to oppose the airport because of its sharply higher fees.
