Vivid Technologies received a $3.5 million continuing research grant from FAA to develop a high-speed explosives detection system. It said the grant shows that FAA "has acknowledged the importance of the operational performance of explosives detection systems, in addition to their detection capabilities." Vivid said its technology supports inspection of 1,500 bags an hour at "low cost of ownership." It said it has sold about 200 systems, and they "have proven to integrate seamlessly into real-world airline and airport operations."
Avitas, in a recent report on the emergence of regional jets, predicts that the aircraft "is not expected to supplant the traditional turboprop." The report notes that the CRJ does not have a wide customer base, with only three airlines - Air Canada, Comair and Lufthansa Cityline - accounting for about 65% of all deliveries. And although the CRJ has the lowest trip-mile cost at an assumed $18 million price tag, "the aircraft has the highest ASM cost of any commercial jet in operation today." Scope clauses also will inhibit growth of RJ operations, Avitas said.
DOT Secretary Rodney Slater will speak June 17 at the International Aviation Club in Washington, D.C. The luncheon will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Independence Ballroom A, 1000 H St.
Filing late on the passenger manifest issue, Hawaiian Airlines said a newly completed passenger survey shows DOT estimates of the time and cost of collecting information on emergency contacts are "wholly unrealistic." The advance notice of proposed rulemaking would require airlines to collect information including date of birth, social security number and how to contact the next of kin in the event of a fatal air disaster (DAILY, May 21).
Cosmos Air, the German regional carrier based in Mannheim, has launched new operations from London City Airport with a daily service to Mannheim and Berlin Tempelhof Airport. Richard Gooding, London City Airport's managing director, said the Mannheim link "opens a totally new gateway for us."
Continental agreed to buy 3,842,542 shares of its class B common stock from David Bonderman-led Air Partners L.P. for $94.2 million cash. The purchase will reduce Air Partners' stake in Continental to 9.5%.
Lufthansa CityLine reported a pre-tax profit of 6.5 million Deutschmarks ($3.8 million) in 1996, slightly lower than the previous year's DM7 million ($4.1 million) but higher than expected. CityLine is completing its costly conversion to an all-jet fleet, and operated 29 Canadair RJs and 17 Avro RJ85s as of March 31. The carrier retired its last four Fokker 50s in the first quarter and now operates only regional jets. CityLine carried three million passengers for the first time, rising 17.5%. Total revenues jumped 38% to DM1.4 billion ($826.3 million).
FAA has purchased 35 acres near Falcon Field Airport, Ga., and will build a new terminal radar approach control facility there, Southern Region Administrator Carolyn Blum said yesterday. The new Tracon will be relocated from Atlanta Hartsfield Airport. The $56.3 million project includes $14.2 million for land and construction and $41.6 million for equipment and telecommunications. Construction begins next March and commissioning is scheduled in July 2000.
Citing substantial losses on its Jetstream 41 program, British Aerospace yesterday announced plans to halt production of the 30-passenger regional turboprop once it fulfills remaining commitments. The company, which reduced production on the J41 from 22 to 12 a year after garnering only 13 orders for the aircraft last year, has contracts for six more J41s and expects to cease production by yearend.
Raytheon Aircraft received FAA certification to manufacture the Hawker mid- size jet. The U.S. company purchased the program from British Aerospace in 1993.
McDonnell Douglas said yesterday it has instructed all operators of its MD Explorer helicopters not to fly them until further notice because a faulty part must be redesigned. The company also notified FAA of its action, which follows the discovery of a broken adjustable collective drive link during a post-flight inspection on May 8. The assembly is a component of the rotor head system.
All Nippon Airways yesterday abandoned a plan to install Kenzo Yoshikawa as president and chief executive and instead selected Kichisaburo Nomura to lead the airline. The shakeup followed by two weeks President Seiji Fukatsu's announcement of his resignation after an internal struggle with the board of directors (DAILY, May 14). Two other ANA leaders, Honorary Chairman Tokuji Wakasa and Chairman Takaya Sugiura, also resigned at yesterday's board meeting, said Masashi Izumi, ANA director of international and government affairs.
BAA plc Chief Executive John Egan said his company will not oppose freezing night flights at London Heathrow Airport at the current level and limiting parking facilities there as a condition for approval of a fifth terminal. In a circular distributed to half a million homes near Heathrow, Egan acknowledged that an airport "will never be the ideal neighbor" but said BAA will step up current measures to enforce noise limits at Heathrow - fines for aircraft that exceed the limits and landing fee discounts for quiet aircraft.
Rohr reported net income of $10.8 million for its third fiscal quarter, which ended May 4, up from $4.1 million in the same quarter a year earlier, in which the company took a $500,000 charge for the exchange of convertible notes for common stock. Sales were up 22% to $249.3 million, primarily from increased commercial deliveries. Operating income was $27.8 million, up from $18.6 million, and the operating margin was 11.2%.
Maverick Airways, the Denver-based startup that suspended scheduled operations this week, was undone by having no beyond-Denver connecting passengers and no frequent-flyer program. The carrier served Grand Junction and Steamboat Springs with DHC-7s and code shared with Frontier, but a source close to the situation said it was unable to wrest connecting United passengers from United Express Mesa, and the local traffic was insufficient to sustain the operation. Load factors were said to be in the 30% to 40% range. Maverick started service in January.
TWA is promising frequent flyer customers 1,000 extra miles if their domestic flights do not arrive on time during June. Rod Brandt, senior VP- marketing and planning, said at TWA, "we are putting our miles where our mouth is." The carrier will give the miles to any member of the Frequent Flight Bonus program whose flight arrives more than 15 minutes late - the DOT standard for a late flight - or who is booked on a flight that is canceled after passengers have boarded. TWA's on-time performance has increased over the past six months.
Travel Industry Association has created a Travel and Tourism Coalition with 26 member businesses and industry organizations. The coalition "will be kept informed on a regular basis about legislative issues that TIA is pursuing on behalf of the industry," TIA President and Chief Executive William Norman said, "and views will be solicited concerning the most appropriate responses regarding those issues." Issues include permanent extension of the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, National Tourism Organization funding and transportation reauthorization.
Final assembly of the first 100-seat MD-95-30 began Saturday at Long Beach, Calif., when workers lowered the first center fuselage barrel onto the wing, Douglas Aircraft Co. reported. Workers soon will join all three fuselage sections and attach the nose and empennage, and the aircraft is scheduled to be standing on its landing gear by the end of June. The fuselage was built by Alenia in Italy and the wing by McDonnell Douglas- Canada. Tracor mated the wing halves, which will be built by Hyundai in Seoul beginning next year.
European airworthiness authorities agreed Tuesday to a Rolls-Royce plan to adopt the Trent 800 engine's gearbox lubrication scheme on the Trent 700 after a series of inflight shutdowns blamed on the gearbox led Airbus A330 operators Cathay Pacific and Dragonair to ground the aircraft (DAILY, May 28), a Rolls spokesman said yesterday.
Hankyu International Transport is expanding operations in Los Angeles with a move to a larger terminal. The company also transferred its corporate headquarters from New York Kennedy to Los Angeles. Hankyu attributes its moves to growing cargo volume to and from Pacific Rim nations.
Emirates will add service to Asia June 1 with flights from Dubai to Singapore, Jakarta and Colombo, Sri Lanka, using new 777s. "The move is in direct response to the burgeoning demand" for passenger and cargo service, the airline said. Capacity will increase 36% to Colombo, 50% to Jakarta and 23% to Singapore. Emirates configures its five 777s with 49 seats in business class and 304 in economy. Two more 777s will join the fleet in September.
AirNet Systems, which flies time-critical shipments to 90 cities in 40 states with 99 aircraft, said its second quarter revenues increased 22.4%, to $22.2 million from $18.2 million. Net income was $3.1 million, up from $2.1 million. Both amounts represent records for the quarter, which ended March 31.
