Despite recent uproar over conflicts in military airspace, the number of midair near-collisions overall has fallen dramatically in the U.S. since the advent of the traffic alert and collision avoidance system - from 348 in 1991 to 202 in 1996, according to FAA. The number of near-collisions between military and civil aircraft dropped from 23 in 1991 to eight last year.
In a transatlantic sale reminiscent of the rock-bottom good old days, Icelandair is offering a two-for-one deal that takes two travelers to London or Glasgow from New York for $225.50 each, or $122.76 each way.
American Eurocopter Corp. pled guilty last week in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., to fraud and making false statements to government officials in connection with a 1993 helicopter sale to Israel, and the company agreed to pay nearly $25 million in fines and penalties to resolve the matter. At issue was Eurocopter's $63 million sale of five AS 565.MA Panther maritime helicopters to Israel, a deal that earlier led a federal grand jury to indict AEC President David Smith and two other men on conspiracy charges (DAILY, Feb. 3). Helen Fahey, U.S.
EVA Airways received approval to provide passenger service between Taiwan and Cambodia and will launch service March 31 between Taipei and Phnom Penh, offering two roundtrips a week initially and three in May. Taiwan and Cambodia completed a bilateral air agreement in December over the objections of China, making Cambodia the second country in Indochina to have direct air links with Taiwan. EVA and China Airlines began direct passenger service between Taiwan and Vietnam in September 1992.
Defense Department has confirmed it will not allow FAA to use the L2 Global Positioning signal for the $483 million Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), sources told The DAILY. The deadline for a decision on a second signal for the Block IIF satellites that Boeing will begin launching in 2001 is Friday. Denial of the signal means FAA's WAAS contract with Hughes will have to undergo a "re-evaluation," a source said.
Israel's Transport Ministry has agreed to sell its entire holding in the airline this year, after retracting a similar plan last year. But the government still will not allow El Al to fly on Saturdays, since Jewish law bans travel on the Sabbath.
The supply chain costs the aviation industry "billions of dollars a year in excess inventory, red tape and lost time," according to the Canaan Group management consulting firm. It says the key step toward curtailing waste is developing a supply system that integrates purchasing, administration, material management, operations and logistics.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers Domestic Traffic August 1996 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles Carriers (000) Change (Miles) (000) Alaska 1,222 14.56 848 1,036,121 America West 1,604 2.70 853 1,368,322
Teal Group lead analyst Richard Aboulafia comments that as Boeing absorbs McDonnell Douglas, it can "go to any country and fill 98% of its aviation needs" - jetliners, fighters, trainers, AWACS, military transports and helicopters. The combined company "should have its own State Department."
Korean Air Lines opposed Asiana's request to DOT that it be considered separately from any dispute involving the Korean government and its denial of beyond-Seoul operations by World Airways (DAILY, Feb. 12). World filed in opposition to various route applications by the two Korean carriers but withdrew its objection to Asiana's Seoul-Chicago proposal after a filing in which Asiana acknowledged World's frustration and pledged to help the U.S. carrier if it could.
The Machinists union, which tried to block the election of Gerald Gitner as TWA chairman and chief executive, has restated its objections now that he has been named to the post (DAILY, Feb. 13). William Scheri, general VP- transportation for the union, said Friday, "As we have stated repeatedly, Mr. Gitner does not have the managerial experience to operate TWA or the vision to turn around the airline.
Miracles happen, but no informed observers expect this week's round of U.S.-U.K. bilateral negotiations in Washington to end with a signed agreement. Published reports that most elements of an open skies pact have been settled "are probably accurate if you just count the number of words," one source said. But the remaining issues are the tough ones. These include dispute resolution procedures, fifth-freedom issues - including beyond rights for cargo carriers - "Fly-America" rules, and specific language on computer reservations systems and ground handling.
The noise levels that would result from expanding Bierset Airport near Li ge, Belgium, into a major cargo hub will make certain areas around the airport "uninhabitable," according to independent studies commissioned by SAB, the company responsible for Bierset's commercial development. With express carrier TNT scheduled to complete the transfer of its European headquarters from Cologne to Bierset in 1998, the airport is gearing up with new cargo terminal facilities, improved apron surface areas and extended runways.
U.S. airlines hired a record number of pilots in 1996 - 10,625, up from 8,814 in 1995 - according to airline career specialist Air Inc. The majors, which usually hire fewer pilots than smaller carriers, hired the most this time - 3,080, compared with 2,773 for the nationals, 2,305 for jet regionals and 1,825 for other regionals.
Continental on Friday awarded $68 million in 1996 profit-sharing checks among 37,500 employees. This is the second year in a row employees have received profit-sharing.
Summary of U.S. National Carriers Systemwide Traffic July 1996 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles Carriers (000) Change (Miles) (000) American Trans Air 539 23.82 1,849 996,986 Carnival 230 15.98 1,195 274,206
Japan Airlines responded in kind to a fierce attack by Federal Express, opposing not only FedEx's arguments against new JAL cargo authority but even its motion for leave to file on the matter. JAL's motion is somewhat moot since FedEx already filed, and DOT officials must read the document even if only to exclude it. But JAL's action signals growing indignation on both sides of the dispute, part of the beyond-rights debate that is the focus of the U.S.-Japan stalemate negotiators hope to start breaking when they meet next month in Washington.
