Aeronautical Telecommunications Network System, a group of 11 airlines funded by FAA, selected an AlliedSignal-led team for the Router Reference Implementation (RRI) program. The six-company team will develop data communications for the program, which involves routing technology for use in the air traffic control system of the future. RRI involves developing software that will determine the routing for messages on the system. Other team members include Honeywell and Vertel of the U.S. and Sextant, Sofrevia and Thomson-CSF of France.
Southwest held onto the top on-time spot for the seventh month in a row with an 87% record for July. Overall, the nation's 10 largest carriers posted a 75.3% on-time rate in July, down from 74.7% in June and substantially lower than the 80.1% level achieved in July 1995, according to DOT's Air Travel Consumer Report, published last week. Northwest placed second at 79%, followed by USAir at 77%. American and Alaska trailed the field with 63% records.
Aero International (Regional) plans to decide in mid-1997 whether to develop its AI(R) 70 regional jet, aimed at a worldwide market and compatibility with scope clauses in U.S. airlines' pilot union contracts. Targeting a first flight of the 70-passenger twinjet in mid-2000 and entry into service a year later, AI(R) plans early development of a 60-seat version and sees potential for a stretch.
Associated Global Systems promoted Dave Ferretti to district service manager for the Boston district, expanded the territory of Metro Region Service Manager Robert Sweet to include the Northeast, promoted Sam Lackey to regional service manager-Southwest and appointed Mark Feltner sales manager-Grand Rapids district.
Eurocopter and Asia-Pacific Airlines have signed an agreement authorizing the carrier as Eurocopter's general sales agent for Taiwan. A Eurocopter official said the company expects the Taiwan market to show strong growth following the government's decision to license private helicopter operations.
A coalition of African-American employees has charged FAA with workplace discrimination. The agency had no immediate response to allegations by the National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees of "discriminatory employment practices and workplace hostility." Evelyn Washington, president of the coalition for the past 10 years, said she has had limited success in meeting with FAA senior managers concerning agency employment practices.
Airport Group International (AGI), Glendale, Calif., formerly Lockheed Air Terminal, and the Haikou Meilan International Airport General Company will jointly finance, build, operate and manage the new Haikou Meilan International Airport under a cooperative agreement announced by AGI. A joint venture financial feasibility study, required by the Chinese, is to be completed in October. The $275 million airport, to be completed by late 1998, will have a 65,000-square-foot terminal and a 3,600-meter runway.
Last week's tentative contract agreement between American and the Allied Pilots Association union leaves many pilots unhappy, even though they get a pay increase. American pilots are fuming that APA negotiators agreed to permit American Eagle pilots to fly regional jets. A recent APA online discussion of the agreement included an informal poll in which most participating pilots said they will vote against ratification.
FAA has approved what manufacturer AlliedSignal claims is the world's first operational precision runway monitor (PRM) and the only FAA-certified solution for parallel runway approaches. The system, installed at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, uses a monopulse secondary surveillance radar that scans between five and 10 times faster than conventional surveillance radars, displaying each aircraft and updating position and speed every second. Controllers can monitor the progress of each aircraft in real time, issuing directions as needed to maintain safe separation.
Japan's International Cooperation Agency (JCIA) recommended that Vietnam develop a new international airport at Hanoi and convert the current airport at Noi Bai to domestic service. Completing a feasibility study for Vietnam's Civil Aviation Administration Authority, JCIA said the new airport should be constructed south of Noi Bai, which is about 40 kilometers from central Hanoi.
Ghana Airways is requesting renewal of its existing exemption authority to provide scheduled combination service between Accra, Ghana, and New York. The carrier currently operates twice-weekly service on the route with its own DC-10-30 aircraft and crews and with a DC-10-30 wet-leased from Skyjet, a Belgian carrier. (Docket 0ST-95-622)
Aviation Sales Company appointed William Alderman senior VP-corporate development. CA One Services appointed Leon Watkins coordinator-airport relations.
America West launched a fare sale within a sale that reduces prices to as little as $39 one way. The sale is for travel taken Sept. 7 through Feb. 13, but the best fares are for travel Dec. 3-18. Some carriers matched in competitive markets. One-way fares generally are priced at $50 to $175, based on roundtrip purchase. Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 13 and within 72 hours of making a reservation.
Lufthansa Cargo officials announced an order yesterday for five MD-11 freighters plus options for another seven, in a deal McDonnell Douglas officials valued at $1.3 billion. The aircraft will be powered by General Electric engines, said Douglas, which valued the engine order at $350 million with options. Wilhelm Althen, chairman of Lufthansa Cargo, said the order is subject to approval from his board and the board of Deutsche Lufthansa.
GE Engine Services President Bill Vareschi said the engine manufacturer wants to expand its burgeoning support services to cover airframe maintenance as well as engine repair and overhaul - if it can find a suitable partner. Choosing his words carefully as word circulated at the Farnborough Air Show that GE intends to move into airframe maintenance, Vareschi made clear that the company will enter the market only with care.
Brit Air, based in Morlaix, France, signed an order for three Canadair Regional Jet aircraft valued at $60 million. Brit Air currently operates six CRJs.
USAir recorded a 6.6% gain in scheduled revenue passenger miles for August on a capacity decrease of 0.4%, pushing the load factor up 4.9 points to a record 74.1%. Domestic RPMs increased 3.4% on 3.4% less capacity. USAir's international RPMs rose 51.1% in August following the startup this year of service to several new European destinations. The number of passengers boarded rose 2.6% in August but dropped 1.9% for the first eight months. USAir's total capacity fell 7.6% so far this year, compared with the same 1995 period.
A Continental Express decision to order the EMB-145 rather than the Bombardier's Canadair Regional Jet or Saab's high-speed turboprop 2000 was based partly on the Embraer aircraft's profit potential on short-haul as well as long-haul routes, Continental Express said (DAILY, Sept. 4). The deal, worth a minimum of $375 million and perhaps as much as $3 billion if all options are exercised, was consummated following an intense competition with Bombardier and its CRJ and, to a lesser extent, the Saab 2000.
USAir has formed an 11-member employee task force to do something about its customer service. The panel intends to make recommendations on minimizing customer/employee conflicts to a steering committee by the end of the month. The task force was commissioned by President and Chief Operating Officer Rakesh Gangwal.
..."Jetprop" is the new marketing emphasis for the Saab 2000 in an attempt to convince government agencies and potential customers alike that the aircraft offers jet performance. The phrase is not just a sales gimmick, the company maintains. FAA slaps the same icing rules on all turboprops with boots, even though the 2000 spends the same amount of time in icing as pure-jet aircraft, having the ability to climb to 31,000 feet almost as fast as a jet. During its recent North American sales tour, the 2000 was able to obtain ATC jet departures most of the time.
