Corporate security managers are expressing growing concern about air travel and terrorism following the crash of TWA Flight 800, according to a survey by the American Society For Industrial Security. Nearly one-third of respondents say they are considering changing the way they handle corporate travel plans, the survey showed.
Aviation pioneer Elrey Jeppesen, 89, died Nov. 26 at his home in Englewood, Colo., following a short illness. He began his flying career at 16 with a pilot's license signed by Orville Wright.
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As leverage to obtain renewal of its code share with Lufthansa into Russia, United wants DOT to prevent Khabarovsk Aviation Group (KAG) from code sharing with Aeroflot or any other carrier if the department grants KAG's application for U.S. route authority under its own banner. "The government of the Russian Federation has refused to renew United's authority to code share on Lufthansa's services to and from points in Russia, notwithstanding United's clear right to code share under the terms of the bilateral aviation agreement" with the U.S., United said.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said last week he was "very disappointed" that the Los Angeles City Council decided to disregard FAA's order to return $31.1 million to Los Angeles Airport (DAILY, Nov. 27) and said DOT and FAA "should immediately take the appropriate action to fully enforce the law." FAA has directed the city to return the funds to the airport, with interest, by today (DAILY, Nov. 25).
Although long-term fleet plans at American Trans Air are unclear as total banishment of Stage 2 aircraft approaches by the end of the decade, the carrier has started to hushkit part of its 727-200 fleet, which stands at 24 aircraft. A spokeswoman said the carrier would have eight aircraft fitted by yearend, with an undetermined number to follow in 1997. The charter and scheduled service carrier also operates 14 L-1011s and seven 757s.
Boeing and McDonnell Douglas officials confirmed the two companies are holding discussions concerning what a Boeing spokesman described as the "possibility of Douglas Aircraft Co. supporting some of our Commercial Airplane Group activities." A Douglas Aircraft spokesman said, "We are at a point in our history where we are exploring a lot of opportunities. We have had some discussions with Boeing." Boeing said the talks are "preliminary" and "cover whether Douglas could support" BCAG.
FAA announced Tuesday evening - just before an NBC Dateline report showing how easy it is to breach airport security - that it will issue immediately a rule permitting the agency to fine "any person or any firm, whether or not it is currently regulated by the FAA, for falsifying information the FAA requires in order to obtain unescorted access to secure airport areas." The rule change was announced on the day of an adverse news report on the television show NBC Dateline by an undercover reporter.
Air Holland applied for authority to operate charter combination service between The Netherlands and the U.S. and points beyond. Air Holland plans to start with wet-lease service for Icelandair from Keflavik Airport at Reykjavik, Iceland, to Orlando and New York Kennedy with 757-200s. (Docket OST 96-1986)
Atlantic Coast Airlines said it will install the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS), Flight Management System (FMS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) on its entire fleet of Jetstream aircraft next month. ACA operates 29 Jetstream 32s and 28 Jetstream 41s. The ACARS, FMS and GPS systems, manufactured by AlliedSignal, use VHF radio frequencies. The package "will elevate our safety in the most positive way," said Tom Moore, senior VP-operations and maintenance.
Delta Express was scheduled to add 20 more daily flights to Orlando yesterday from eight cities. The increased service by the low-fare unit of Delta includes six new daily flights to Washington Dulles, and flights to Boston, Hartford/Springfield, Indianapolis, Louisville, Newark, Philadelphia and Providence/Newport. Delta Express offers three fare levels - 21-day advance, seven-day and walk-up.
Aviation Distributors and Manufacturers Association named Ronald Chapman, VP of Cessna, president and presented the Janice Dyer Aviation Education Award to Aviation High School, Long Island City, N.Y.
While Delta And Continental battle to become the new U.S. flag carrier on scheduled U.S.-Brazil routes (DAILY, Nov. 26), American, one of the current designees, wants more frequencies so it can start flying to Manaus, operating seven flights a week from Miami. No U.S. flags currently serve the point, although other carriers comment that American, the dominant U.S. carrier to Brazil, could use frequencies it already has to serve the point.
UPS said it plans to strengthen its Philippines operations by forming a joint venture with Delbros Inc., one of that nation's largest transportation companies and a UPS agent since 1988. The plan follows recent award to UPS of new air rights allowing it to operate six flights a week to Manila. UPS in the last six months has made several moves to increase its Asia/Pacific presence. Last month, it started phasing in operations of a regional hub in Taiwan, core of a $400 million investment in its regional network.
DOT has not issued a security alert on Ethiopia's airport at Addis Ababa, capital of that country and departure point for the Ethiopian Airlines 767 that crashed after being taken over by three hijackers. With no direct nonstop service between the U.S. and Ethiopia, the 1985 act requiring such notification would not demand FAA monitoring of the airport, a DOT spokesman said. A small number of Americans were reported on board and at least one died. The Nov.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers Domestic Revenues and Expenses Second Quarter 1996 (In Dollars) Total Operating % Passenger Carrier Revenues Change Revenues Alaska 321,384,000 14.93 272,648,000 America West 456,471,359 14.71 426,669,712 American 2,704,427,000 (3.21) 2,494,745,000
British Aerospace Asset Management-Jets (AMJ) said it plans to certify satellite-based navigation systems to retrofit a large part of its fleet of BAe 146 jetliners because of the gradual phase-out of the worldwide network of VLF Omega ground stations. AMJ has selected the AlliedSignal-XLS for the first phase of the navigation upgrade, which covers a program to fit 90 aircraft with electromechanical flight decks.
International Logistics said it has reached an agreement with LEP International Worldwide, a U.K.-based freight forwarder, to acquire LEP North American and to take a "significant minority interest" in LEP International Worldwide, with an option to increase it holdings over the next three years, leading to possible ultimate ownership. LEP North American consists of LEP Profit International, Atlanta, and LEP International, Toronto.
Los Angeles City Council reportedly has voted to stand by the recommendations of two council committees to put the $31.1 million transferred to the city from Los Angeles Airport in escrow while the city conducts a study of whether the reimbursement was valid. In closed session yesterday, the City Council rejected FAA's call for return of the funds to the airport by Dec. 2, sources said.
ValuJet has launched a "beat the holiday rush" fare sale. Tickets for three-day advance purchase fares will start at $39 for reservations made by Dec. 4 and are good for travel Dec. 3-18 and Jan. 6-Feb. 13. The carrier expects to be back up to 128 daily departures to 20 cities Dec. 19, when it resumes flights to three more cities - Dallas/Fort Worth, West Palm Beach and Fort Myers (DAILY, Nov. 26). The new service, announced Monday, will use five DC-9s ValuJet is bringing back into the fleet.
The City of New York cannot count passenger facility charges as revenue in calculating rental rates at New York's LaGuardia and Kennedy airports, FAA last week told the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. FAA Chief Counsel Nicholas Garaufis responded to a request for "information and advice" from the port authority after New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said he would seek about $220 million in back rent he claimed was due the city from the airports.
