Aviation Learning Systems, Chantilly, Va., said Gateway Technical College has acquired four of its Pro Series personal computer-based flight training systems. Gateway, part of the Wisconsin Technical College System, will use the FAA-approved devices to replace its aging flight simulators.
KLM representatives are due to meet with European Commission officials Sept. 9 regarding a dispute with low-cost British airline EasyJet, which has accused KLM of predatory pricing on the London-Amsterdam route. The Dutch airline denied last week it has been seeking an out-of-court settlement.
Vanguard Airlines filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to allow shareholders to purchase common stock at a rate substantially below the trading price - $0.50 per share, compared with the $1.75 at which the airline traded yesterday. "It looks like a real reach for raising some cash," said one airline analyst. Vanguard's losses mounted to $7.2 million in the most recent quarter on revenues of $21.7 million, versus a $1.9 million loss a year earlier.
UPS pilots will vote on a contract that, depending on one's allegiance, is either "one of the finest in the industry" or a continuation of the "typical cowboy posture" that led to the Teamsters strike. The decision to forward the contract for a vote by membership came after brief talks in Louisville Sunday arranged by National Mediation Board member Magdalena Jacobsen (DAILY, Aug. 25). The rendezvous produced no public change in the position of labor or management.
FAA will make Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds available for the first time to states and airport sponsors for routine maintenance of runways, taxiways and aprons. Eligible expenses will include cleaning, filing and sealing cracks; patching distressed areas and cleaning drainage structures.
Italair, a new privately owned Italian regional airline, launched operations yesterday. The Pisa-based carrier operates two 44-seat ATR-42- 300 aircraft on daily services linking the Sardinian seaside resort Alghero with Pisa, Bologna and Genoa. Italair also plans to start twice-daily flights between Rome and Cuneo, near the French border, and is considering international services within the European Union.
Continental Express, which notified DOT May 19 of its intention to terminate service to Worcester, Mass., effective Sept. 4, told the department it is "currently engaged in discussions" with Worcester about continued service from Newark. The carrier has agreed to amend its notice to continue serving the market through Jan. 7, 1998, with two daily roundtrips and an additional nonstop six days per week.
The U.S. Air Force is examining the possibility of contracting with the civil helicopter industry for aircraft and crews, according to Frank Jensen, president, Helicopter Association International.
Sunjet International is expanding its operations out of Long Beach Airport, launching nonstop service to Seattle and Las Vegas Oct. 1., and to Newark/New York and Houston Intercontinental Nov. 1. To promote the service, SunJet will offer free tickets on every seat to Seattle and Las Vegas on the first day of operation and fares of $79 and $49 for every seat during the first two weeks. SunJet started flying Newark-Fort Lauderdale and St. Petersburg in 1993 and also serves Dallas and Orlando. The new service will increase SunJet's daily departures from 12 to 23.
Five of the six largest airlines lost U.S. industry market share between July 1994 and July 1997. United's industry-leading position fell to 20.1% from 22.2%. Traffic increased at all airlines, but Northwest was the only market share gainer. More airlines and growth by Southwest, Reno Air and Western Pacific are reasons for the shift.
Sterling European Airways, Copenhagen, has leased three new 737-800s from International Lease Finance Corp. for delivery in April and May 1998 and in March 1999. The aircraft will operate primarily on European routes.
Delta and TAP Air Portugal defended their bid to expand code-share operations, an application American objected to in the absence of explicit assurances that other carriers also will receive the right to conduct third-country code-share flights to Portugal (DAILY, Aug. 18). Delta-TAP's existing code sharing includes a blocked-space agreement, under which TAP displays its TP code on Delta flights between New York Kennedy and Boston.
Gulfstream Aerospace said Friday its Gulfstream V carried out the first nonstop flight from New York to Tokyo by a business jet. The aircraft completed the 6,113 nautical mile flight in 13 hours, 22 minutes. It cruised at a speed of Mach .80 and at altitudes of up to 51,000 feet.
Thomson Training&Simulator said the second 777 full simulator it produced for Untied Airlines received FAA Level C approval and has entered service at Untied's training center in Denver. Level C is the highest certification possible with current aircraft data, and Level D certification is due following flight test updates later this year. The simulator, representing the B market 777, is configured for Pratt&Whitney engines with interchange capability to General Electric and Rolls-Royce engines.
UPS management and the Independent Pilots Association were scheduled to meet yesterday in Louisville with National Mediation Board member Magdalena Jacobsen to explore possibilities for a contract settlement. In a separate action, federal authorities overturned the election of Teamsters President Ron Carey, finding illegal activity by some of his supporters. The decision means a new election but has no bearing on the contract agreement that ended the UPS Teamsters strike.
New Aircraft Orders and Options May 1997 Last 12 Months Firm Orders Options Orders Options Carrier # Type # Type Engines Del. Dates # Type # Type Air Europa* 1 737-300 - CFM56-3C1 - 2 737-300 - 1 737-400 -
Northwest's "Everyday Deals" discount pricing is far less risky than American's foray into Value Pricing several years ago. Airlines have become adept at using yield management technology, J.P. Morgan analyst Jeff Long noted. "Because airlines can handle the complexity and the technology, you can have a fare structure that is more complicated, not less complicated, and initiatives like this latest one are more predictable," he said.
Loni Czekalski has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against George Donohue, FAA deputy administrator-designate, who transferred her from the Wide Area Augmentation System program after publicity about cost overruns. Czekalski went to EEOC after receiving no response from an appeal to DOT Secretary Rodney Slater or then-acting FAA Administrator Barry Valentine to reverse Donohue's transfer order.
DOT denied an application of Aerolinhas Brasileiras, S.A. (ABSA) to conduct 26 roundtrip Lima-Miami cargo charter flights through Oct. 30 to carry asparagus for five Peruvian charterers. Emery Worldwide had filed an objection challenging ABSA's assertion that Brazil had established reciprocity with DOT, and DOT based its denial mainly on a finding that reciprocity was not "sufficient." Emery said Brazil has denied it fifth- freedom charter authority "on several occasions," a charge that ABSA did not rebut.
