Rep. John Duncan's (R-Tenn.) proposed Airline Service Improvement Act would tap into funds generated by new overflight fees to boost service for smaller communities. DOT would have $10 million a year to help carriers buy aircraft and slots, and to offset early financial losses. Carriers given a federal loan guarantee to buy regional jets would have to serve a market for at least two years.
Airbus amd Fokker Aircraft Operating Costs Second Quarter 1997 Dollars Per Block Hours A320-100/200 America West Northwest United Average Crew Cost $319 $609 $671 $551 Fuel&Oil 493 496 505 498 Rentals 731 394 531 527
Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) joined the U.S.-Japan letter- writing brigade last month, urging President Clinton to keep in mind "two critical elements" - immediate exercise of U.S. rights and provisions granting non-incumbents growth opportunities after the end of the four-year agreement, a reference to "safety net" issues. Gingrich's home state harbors Atlanta-based Delta, and he cited the carrier's goal of serving the southeastern U.S. with Atlanta-Tokyo nonstops. But he also highlighted areas of common concern.
US Airways' pilots ratified their contract by an 84.2% margin Friday, setting the stage for the airline's other unions to complete their negotiations with the company. The ratification also enables the airline to go ahead with its $14 billion, 400-aircraft order with Airbus Industrie and transform US Airways into the global competitor Chief Executive Stephen Wolf envisions (DAILY, Sept. 18). The contract goes into effect Jan. 1.
Dutch and French-speaking green groups in Belgium have joined to push for sweeping and strict environmental standards at European and national levels. Controlling noise levels at Europe's airports, particularly Brussels Airport International, is a primary target of their campaign.
Boeing and IBM will develop and produce a mobile wireless asynchronous transfer mode system that will carry information uninterrupted between mobile platforms. The system will permit a continuous connection on an aircraft or other mobile platform by coordinating network links between transmitters.
Southwest has hired Thomas Chapman as Washington-based legislative counsel, a new position, effective early next year. He is currently senior VP- government and technical affairs for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, where he has worked for 17 years. He will be joined in Washington by Todd Rogers, manager of government affairs, who currently holds that position in Dallas.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association Friday won the right to represent FAA engineers. Of the 1,150 FAA engineers eligible to vote, 639 sent in ballots, and 498 voted in favor of NATCA.
DOT extended from Nov. 10 to Dec. 9 the deadline for comments on whether rules on computer reservations systems should be changed. Deadline for replies slipped from Dec. 9 to Jan. 23, 1998.
Airbus and Fokker Aircraft Operating Costs Systemwide Aircraft Utilization Per Day Second Quarter 1997 A320-100/200 America West Northwest Number of Aircraft Operated 26 50 Total Fleet Operations Departures 133 198 Block Hours 343 538
The government of North Rhine Westphalia is selling its 50% stake in Dusseldorf Airport to German construction group Hochtief, according to a "preliminary agreement" initialed recently, a spokesman of the land's transport ministry confirmed Friday. "Negotiations continue, in particular between Hochtief and the city of Dusseldorf," which owns the remaining 50% of the airport. "The city and Hochtief must come to an operational agreement. As well, the city owns the land on which the airport is built," the spokesman said.
Boeing's decision to phase out some Douglas aircraft, due today, may stop production but will not tarnish Douglas's reputation for longevity. The MD-80, expected to get the ax, should remain flying 20 to 30 more years. "I expect them to hold their values and have long, productive lives well after I'm retired," said Fred Klein, president of GRA Aviation Specialists.
United used two Boeing 777s on the ground at Denver Airport as hotels during the blizzard that dumped 24 inches of snow last week. A group of senior citizens and some United crew members were offered rest quarters on the widebodies. Inside the terminal, 35 United staff took on the workload normally handled by 200 people.
Air Canada, buoyed by a resurgent domestic economy, posted record third quarter net and operating profits and reported an improving operating margin of 17.5%. The carrier had a record net profit of C$181 million (US$129 million). Operating income shot up 37% to C$284 million ($202 million). "Leisure travel is up, but more importantly for us, business travel is up," said Chief Executive Lamar Durrett.
Attorneys for the Boulder-based Objective Inc. will appeal a court decision that it pay Scheduled Airlines Traffic Offices (SATO) $1 in damages in a lawsuit over a highly specialized software program developed by Objective. The trial ended Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria when the jury rendered its verdict in favor of SATO.
LanChile will begin nonstop service to Orlando from Santiago Dec. 26, using 767-300ERs. The four weekly flights will be the only scheduled nonstop service between Orlando and South America by a South American carrier.
Europort Vatry began a U.S. marketing campaign last week, presenting itself at the Air Cargo Americas International Congress and Exhibition in Miami as the largest cargo complex in Europe and the continent's first all-cargo airport. Officials said the facility will operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and its landing fees for cargo will be 20% less than those at other European airports.
-- In Federal Register dated Oct. 24...Proposed an airworthiness directive on Pratt&Whitney Canada PW100 engines to require improved fuel manifold tubes. -- In FR dated Oct. 27...Issued an AD on Pilatus BN-2 aircraft requiring modification of the upper engine mounting brackets on the wing front spar...Revised a proposed AD on Boeing 757 aircraft concerning replacement of parts of the ram air turbine.
Air Transport Association SPEC 2000 Forum will be held Nov. 6-7 at the Long Beach Hilton Hotel in Long Beach, Calif. SPEC 2000 is a worldwide electronic supply network used by airlines to purchase aircraft parts and repair services. For further information, call 800-375-9286 or 202-626- 4039 or visit web site http://www.spc2000.com.
Birmingham, England-based Maersk Air said it will purchase three Canadair RJ Series 200LR aircraft and take 12 options, Bombardier announced. The manufacturer placed the value of the three firm orders at about C$89.5 million, or $US64 million. Deliveries are scheduled for the second quarter of 1998. The airline, a British Airways franchisee, did not name specific routes on which it would use the RJs. The aircraft are intended to replace BAC-111s and will fly in BA livery under the franchise agreement.
FAA agreed yesterday, at the urging of Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), to bring in Mitre Corp. and work with the DOT Inspector General in an attempt to resolve a bitter dispute with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association that threatens to delay further the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) program. Wolf, chairman of the House Appropriations transportation subcommittee, wants FAA to report by Dec. 15 on progress in resolving cost, delay and human factors issues raised by the DOT IG and NATCA.
Boeing's $3 billion, 50-aircraft purchase agreement to deliver aircraft to the burgeoning China market, signed yesterday, represents a big boost for the 737 in the region. Boeing officials said privately that apart from China's overall commitment, the company is thrilled that 36 737s are included in the deal. Airbus Industrie sold 30 A320-family twinjets to China in May, gaining its first foothold for the narrowbody series.
