FAA has awarded its level "D" certification to FlightSafety International's full-flight simulator of the Embraer RJ145 regional jet at the Houston flight center, FlightSafety reported. The simulator - the second RJ145 simulator in service - was designed and built by the FlightSafety Simulation Systems division in Tulsa, Okla., and is equipped with the VITAL ChromaView visual system that provides detailed daylight scenes.
Southwest has received tentative approval from Maryland's public works board to add 10 gates at Baltimore/Washington International Airport by 2002, increasing its gates from six to 16. The expansion is estimated to cost $72.5 million, and Southwest spokeswoman Kristie Kerr said she did not know how much the carrier will pay in leasing fees. The gates will increase Southwest's capacity dramatically - it currently operates 50 flights out of the six gates and "could go up to 160 flights with 16 gates," Kerr said.
DOT issued a final rule this week establishing categories of disabled passengers for which airlines generally must provide special seating accommodations, if requested. The department also asked airlines to carry collapsible, folding or break-down electric wheelchairs as in-cabin storage, if requested, in the same manner as manual wheelchairs, and outlined requirements for handling batteries. The effective date of the new rule, published in the March 4 Federal Register, is April 3. The compliance date on seating is six months from the rule's effective date.
Washington Dulles-based United Express affiliate Atlantic Coast Airlines has converted conditional orders for five Canadair Regional Jet Series 200ER twinjets into firm orders, manufacturer Bombardier announced. Value of the transaction was placed at about $104 million and deliveries are forecast to take place next year.
Southwest traffic for February increased 9.55% on 6.9% more capacity, boosting the load factor 1.4 percentage points to 61.5%. For the first two months, traffic grew 2.5% on 7% more capacity. The airline's average length of haul in February rose 8.1% from 533 miles to 576 miles. February 1998 February 1997 2 Months 1998 2 Months 1997 RPMs 2,167,245,000 1,979,291,000 4,236,799,000 4,133,645,000 ASMs 3,521,275,000 3,294,978,000 7,356,245,000 6,872,933,000
Israel Aircraft Industries' Bedek Aviation Group will convert 747-200 aircraft from passenger to cargo configuration under a multi-year contract from Triton Aviation Services Ltd. Bedek estimated that it will convert three aircraft per year, and that it will receive $60 million-$65 million for the first three. The company has begun six months of maintenance and conversion work in Israel on the first aircraft, purchased by Triton from Air-India. Triton intends to sell or lease the aircraft after Bedek has converted them.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta has ruled that TPI International Airways should have access to a DOT Inspector General's report that could exonerate the small cargo carrier from alleged violations used to shut it down in August 1990. The document - the "Dutch memorandum" - is the result of a review of FAA enforcement activities against TPI conducted by DOT IG Special Agent Dennis Dutch. TPI lost an Air Force contract as a result of the shut-down, after it alleged that its Lockheed Electra aircraft were being sabotaged at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
American Eagle, preparing to unify its four regional carriers into a single organization effective July 1, has named a VP-flight operations for the single-carrier organization and six new hub VPs. Also this week, flight attendants at the four Eagle carriers approved a new contract by a substantial margin. Ed Criner, currently VP-flight operations for Eagle unit Flagship, will become VP-flight operations for the unified carrier, and report to Dave Kennedy, senior VP-operations.
Atlantic Coast Airlines has opened a $10 million, 90,000-square-foot aircraft maintenance facility at its Washington Dulles Airport hub. The facility centralizes ACA's maintenance resources and improves the maintenance department's ability to support ACA's growing flight schedule.
Federal appeals court in Atlanta has overturned lower federal courts that refused to allow TPI International Airways access to a DOT Inspector General's report that the small Brunswick, Ga., cargo carrier says will exonerate it from FAA violations leading to its shut-down in August 1990.
Eight regional-airline stocks increased in value by an average of 8.9% during February. The average price per share for the eight issues was up from $22.23 at the January close to $24.21 on Feb. 27. The increase was led by United Express Atlantic Coast with a $7.13 jump in stock price, up 19.7% to $43.38. It was followed by Delta Connection Atlantic Southeast, which was up $5.75 per share, or 16.7%, to $40.25 on the month.
Northwest's February traffic rose 1.4% on 2.7% more capacity, forcing the load factor down 0.9 percentage points to 70%. Domestic traffic, 59.6% of the system total, edged up 0.3% on 1.4% more capacity, easing the load factor 0.7 points to 67.4%. International traffic, 40.4% of the system total, rose 3% on 5% more capacity, resulting in a 74.1% load factor, down 1.4 points. February 1998 February 1997 2 Months 1998 2 Months 1997 RPMs 5,179,269,000 5,106,807,000 10,582,539,000 10,330,618,000
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers International Traffic, Third Quarter 1997 Total Operating % Passenger Freight Revenues Change Revenues Revenues Alaska 14,498,000 9.01 13,959,000 76,000 Latin 14,498,000 9.01 13,959,000 76,000 American 1,394,986,000 8.98 1,224,785,000 82,369,000
American's proposal to incorporate Continental into an otherwise routine review of Northwest-KLM antitrust immunity serves no purpose other than American's, the three carriers said. American wants DOT to conduct a full- fledged proceeding on renewing immunity and filed to include Continental after the Northwest investment in Continental was announced. Northwest and Continental also plan to code-share to Japan and beyond.
Seattle-based Horizon Air has cut its lowest fares to Sun Valley, Idaho, by up to 50% for travel April 1 through June 13. Discounted fares are available from "dozens" of Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines cities, Horizon said, and start as low as $50 each way.
Finnair will sign a commercial cooperation agreement with Polish flag carrier Lot next week in Warsaw, according to Finnair Chairman Antti Potila. Quoted yesterday by Finnish business daily Taloussanomat, Potila said the agreement will lead to new routes between Finland and Poland. He emphasized that Lot, like Finnair, sealed an alliance recently with British Airways
United's February traffic fell 2.2% on 2.8% more capacity, resulting in a load factor of 65.1%, down 3.3 percentage points. The airline said yesterday it expects both revenues and expenses for the first quarter to be lower than in the 1996 period, but its earnings forecast remains unchanged, consistent with Wall Street's First Call earnings estimate of $1.55 per share. "U.S. demand remains healthy, but we are disappointed in the falloff in Pacific traffic," said United President John Edwardson.
Los Angeles Airport officials said passenger volume increased 3.7% in 1997 to 60.1 million. Cargo tonnage was up 8.9% to 2 million and aircraft operations increased 2.3% to 781,492. International passenger traffic rose 5.1% to 14.7 million and international air shipments 10.1% to 843,247 tons.
..SkyWest surprised many in the industry by bucking the regional-jet trend and ordering turboprops, which some analysts predict are a dying breed. VP-Market Development Steve Hart told The DAILY, however, that the carrier needed aircraft quickly and that it was not practical to acquire other aircraft on such short notice. On the other hand, he said most of the West Coast routes are short-haul, high-frequency and low-yield, not really suitable for jets. Given the yield environment, Hart said SkyWest ultimately would probably replace its Brasilias with turboprops.
Kellstrom Industries said it signed an agreement to acquire Integrated Te chnology for $20 million cash and other considerations. ITC is a supplier of jet engines and jet engine parts, mainly for Rolls-Royce and Pratt&Whitney products. It supplies 75 customers, including major airlines and jet engine repair facilities. ITC's income has grown from $16 million in 1995 to $30 million in 1997, Kellstrom said.
Mesa Air Group's new board is hiring an executive search firm to help find a replacement for Chief Executive Larry Risley, who announced Dec. 5 that he planned to retire. The board's selection committee said it will consider both inside and outside applicants.
DOT granted UPS an exemption to provide scheduled cargo service between points in the U.S. and Tokyo and beyond Tokyo to Taipei and Singapore, and between points in the U.S. and Osaka and beyond Osaka to Taipei and Manila. The exemption will last one year or until 90 days after final action on UPS's application for certificate authority to serve the same routes, in Docket OST-98-3477.
Alaska Air Group subsidiary Horizon Air flew 73 million revenue passenger miles last month, a 14.1% increase from 64 million a year earlier. Capacity increased 13.3% to 122 million available seat miles, as the load factor rose 0.4 percentage points to 60% from 59.6% in the prior period. Boardings grew 7.5% to 289,000.
Northwest Airlines Cargo said this week it will begin daily flights fr om Osaka to Taipei April 5. The DC-10-30 flight is an extension of the carrier's Seattle-Osaka service.
