Boeing notified airlines last week that it plans to issue a service bulletin calling for inspection of 747 center wing tanks. The National Transportation Safety Board has issued four recommendations on transport aircraft fuel tanks, and Boeing said it "has been determined that the center wing tank was involved" in the crash last summer of TWA Flight 800, a 747. The company said "no definitive conclusion has been drawn about the cause of the explosion," however.
Orally renewed an exemption for Lineas Aereas Allegro to fly scheduled combination service between San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, and San Francisco, and Cancun and Orlando, and to conduct passenger charters between Mexico and the U.S through May 16, 1998...Received an application to permit Air Atlanta to operate five roundtrip U.K.-Florida flights using a 747-200 for Airtours International Airways...Dismissed at request of applicant a Virgin Atlantic charter to be flown by Air Foyle/Antonov Design Bureau, carrying a replacement CF6 engine and tools, plus ancillary equipment, u
Qantas has finalized plans to spend A$550 million (US$430 million) during the next three years to refurbish the interiors of all 99 of its aircraft. Qantas will put new, high-technology seating in first, business and economy class and all seats will have personal interactive video systems. The domestic fleet will be reconfigured starting in October, and international upgrades will debut next April.
Citicorp sold a 747-200 with General Electric engines to Atlas Air and an MD-83 with Pratt&Whitney engines to Finova Capital Ltd. Both aircraft remain on lease, the 747 to Philippine Airlines and the MD-83 to Spanair.
Alitalia is transferring more of its long-haul responsibilities to Alitalia Team, formerly the regional airline Avianova. Alitalia Team, which now has 22 aircraft, will operate all of Alitalia's 767s, and the parent airline is exploring how to enlarge Team further.
Members of Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH), lobbying Congress last week for a campaign to reduce trucking-related fatalities, said the annual death toll in truck-related crashes is 28 times that of airline crashes. Yet the White House had a special commission "working night and day" on airline safety, the organization complained.
The National Mediation Board (NMB) has assigned veteran airline mediator Harry Bickford to oversee talks between Continental and the Independent Association of Continental Pilots (IACP). The carrier and the union filed jointly last week for NMB's assistance (DAILY, May 20). The IACP contract becomes amendable July 1, and both sides have agreed that the pilots are underpaid compared with the rest of the industry. Bickford, who recently mediated talks between American and its Allied Pilots Association, helped Continental and the IACP reach a settlement two years ago.
United's new "Rising" slogan will replace the "Friendly Skies" theme - but possibly not forever. Chairman Gerald Greenwald says "Friendly Skies" may make an encore - in fact, research shows the single biggest image issue among United employees is their desire to keep United "Friendly."
- In Federal Register dated May 19...Proposed an airworthiness directive on Robinson R22 helicopters with a Lycoming O-360-J2A engine to require replacing the carburetor. - In FR dated May 20...Issued an AD on Bell 412 series helicopters requiring a maximum accumulated retirement index number for certain main rotor masts and plates...Proposed an AD on Bell 47 series helicopters to require a safety washer kit for the stabilizer bar damper link.
A group of 20 countries and the European Union presented a demarche to the State Department Friday asking that FAA's new overflight fees be deferred until the U.S. has met its obligations to provide adequate consultation and a detailed explanation of how the fees were determined. The demarche, a diplomatic note signaling serious intent, was signed by officials from the embassies of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K.
Nations Air applied for an exemption to operate scheduled combination service between Miami and Maracaibo, Venezuela, using a 142-seat 727-200 from its existing fleet. Daily service would start June 1. Nations Air said it would be the only U.S. carrier operating nonstop or direct service on the route. One Venezuelan airline operates the route, but it cannot expand its service because Venezuela is rated Category 2 by the FAA. (Docket OST-97-2551)
Boeing PART Page, which went on the World Wide Web last November, has generated more than 150,000 transactions, and volume is expected to grow to half a million by its first anniversary. More than 200 customers are using the site to order spare parts, get price quotes and check on shipments. Potential user base is about 750 airlines and maintenance firms.
Boeing 747, Systemwide Aircraft Utilization Per Day, Fourth Quarter 1996, B747-100, B747-200, B747-400 Boeing 747 Systemwide Aircraft Utilization Per Day Fourth Quarter 1996 B747-100 Northwest TWA Number of Aircraft Operated 396 186 Total Fleet Operations Departures 1,588 757 Block Hours 3,708 1,737
AirTran Airways applied to DOT Friday for service to slot-controlled New York LaGuardia Airport, a subject of recent hearings on barriers to entry (DAILY, May 14). AirTran wants to operate two daily roundtrips from Toledo/Akron, Bloomington/Moline/Quad Cities and Knoxville. None of the points has nonstop or direct service to LaGuardia, the carrier said.
Business Express received final approval from DOT to operate as a reorganized company, emerging from bankruptcy proceedings that began Jan. 22, 1996. The airline, which code shares with Delta and Northwest, offers 340 daily flights with 37 Saab 340s.
International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading elected Allen Oliver, CIT Group, its president. Professional Aviation Maintenance Association and Aircraft Technical Publishers presented the PAMA/ATP Maintenance Technician of the Year Award to Richard Wellman, supervisor of technical services at Signature Flight Support, East Granby, Conn.
Concorde and the Americas by Kenneth Owen. Details the bitter political controversies over the Concorde's economic and environmental effects and the strained diplomatic relations among the U.S., France and the U.K. Smithsonian Institution Press; $35 hardcover. To order, call 800-782-4612.
Unisys is providing its Year 2000 information services system of assessment planning, conversion and testing to help Ansett prepare business operations and information technology systems for the turn of the century.
Japan Transport Minister Makoto Koga Friday proposed formal bilateral talks with the U.S. during the first or second week of June. The two countries have had three informal bilateral meetings, most recently in Honolulu. When President Clinton and Prime Minister Hashimoto met in Washington last month (DAILY, April 29), they expressed a desire for negotiators to sit down and resolve outstanding issues, a Japanese government official said. "We've been waiting for a reply from the U.S. on this, but so far we have not got it," he said.
Flight of Passage by Rinker Buck. Audio version of the Hyperion hardcover book telling the true story of two teenage brothers who bought a dilapidated Piper Cub, rebuilt it in their barn and flew it from New England to California, making headlines as the "youngest aviators to fly America coast-to-coast." Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing; $23.95, four cassettes. To order, call 212-782-9652.
New three-day truck service by FedEx has stirred union arguments that its ground employees do not fall under the Railway Labor Act even though FedEx last year "held Congress hostage" until the FAA reauthorization bill gave the carrier "added defense against efforts by its truck drivers to organize a union" under the National Labor Relations Act.
Abacus has begun operations in Pakistan and has formed a Club Abacus "recognition program" for travel agents with whom it does the most business. The Asia/Pacific computer reservations system started up in Pakistan with the cutover of eight travel agencies since midmonth, and Michael Lim, senior manager-market development, said the company will train more than 100 agents and install its system at more than 50 travel agencies there during the next few weeks. Lim leads the Abacus support group in Pakistan.
