The main terminal extension of the Washington Dulles Airport was formally dedicated yesterday in ceremonies involving Virginia Gov. George Allen and D.C. Mayor Marion Barry. The new facilities will be fully operational and open to the public by monthend.
Saab Aircraft has found a solution for its higher-than-guaranteed cabin noise level in the new 2000 high-speed turboprop - adding approximately one inch to the propeller shaft. Moving the prop slightly forward apparently brings the average cabin noise down from the current 77 dBA to give it a "healthy margin" under the 76 dBA guaranteed to launch customer Crossair. Final testing has not been completed, however, and the aircraft's active noise control system would have to be re-tuned.
Continental Express's firm order this week for 25 new Embraer EMB-145 50- passenger regional jets likely will push AMR Eagle into a regional-jet decision of its own, observers close to the situation said at the Farnborough Air Show in England. Eagle has been slow to act, ostensibly because sister airline American was still in negotiations on a new contract and scope clause with its pilots. Ultimately, the carrier is expected to take a large fleet of regional jets from Canadair or Embraer and a significant number of Saab 2000 high-speed turboprops.
Aero International (Regional) and Bombardier will be the industry leaders in regional aircraft, Patrick Gavin, the new AI(R) president, told The DAILY this week. His premise is based on the fact that they are the only two manufacturers able to offer a family of products ranging from 29- passenger turboprops to 70-passenger jets.
A decision this week by Republican leaders in Congress to adjourn early and not pursue enactment of a large tax cut may lead to another lapse in the aviation excise taxes, sources said yesterday. Although Congress still has ample time to pass a stopgap extension of the taxes, congressional budget rules militate against any extension beyond the current expiration date, Dec. 31, unless it is a long-term extension that would generate billions of dollars.
Fokker's demise was a setback for Shorts, "but is by no means fatal," Short Brothers Chairman Roy McNulty said Monday. Still, McNulty said that unless bankrupt Fokker finds a savior, Shorts likely will have to lay off 300 more workers, expanding a reorganization that already cost more than 700 jobs. Shorts designed and built the wings for the Fokker 70 and Fokker 100.
Air Canada said yesterday it expects to create 160 maintenance-related jobs at its Montreal Dorval maintenance center, opening next month, to handle third-party A320/A319 and 767 airframe and engine work. The carrier decided to expand its capabilities for the two aircraft types while contracting out airframe work for its nine 747s. Yesterday, Air Canada signed a memorandum of understanding with Air France, under which the French carrier will perform the 747 work. Air France will send its five 767s to Air Canada for airframe and engine maintenance.
InVision Technologies officials, who bill their CTX 5000 as the only FAA- certified automatic explosives detection system (EDS), expressed surprise yesterday that FAA is proposing to allow such systems to detect only detonators (DAILY, Aug. 30). Sergio Magistri, InVision president, said technology is not available to detect detonators based on organic materials, which make up 50% of detonators. Magistri said InVision has told Vice President Gore's Aviation Safety and Security Commission that it can supply as many as 700 EDSs in the next three years.
Alaska Airlines will embark on a $10 million program to modify its 737-400s and train flight crews to become the first airline in the world to integrate Global Positioning System technology with enhanced ground proximity warning systems (GPWS).
Dallas Airmotive has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire the Engine Services Division of Anglo American Airmotive Ltd., Bournemouth, England. The purchase includes all tools and equipment of the Anglo American engine unit, including a state-of-the-art test cell for Pratt&Whitney PT6A series engines, Dallas Airmotive said. The PT6A series powers Beech 99, 1300 and 1900 aircraft, as well as Shorts 330s and 360s.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers International Traffic March 1996 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles Carriers (000) Change (Miles) (000) Alaska 74 26.01 1,060 78,327 Latin 74 26.01 1,060 78,327 American 1,240 7.93 2,162 2,681,515
United has sustained damage on 166 aircraft during routine servicing and maintenance by employees and contractors so far this year, compared with 105 at this time in 1995. Many of the incidents are minor, but one trend that concerns the carrier is that far more of the accidents are occurring in North America this year, 55%, than last year, 33%. United tracks damage and on-the-job injuries on a daily basis and informs all employees via an internal newswire.
The White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security recommended yesterday a series of aviation security improvements, including increased use of bomb detection devices and passenger profiles. Vice President Gore, head of the commission, said the proposals are "tough and doable" and will be implemented as soon as possible. Initially at least, the effort is to be funded by a supplemental budget request of $300 million, and subsequent backing would come from a soon-to-be-set-up private/public consortium.
Former DOT Secretary Jim Burnley will discuss aviation security, FAA reform and FAA reauthorization during an interview on this week's Aviation News Today, to be broadcast on Washington's NewsChannel 8 Sunday from 12:30 a.m. to l a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Holiday Inn will become a participating member of China Airlines' Dynasty Flyer Program, effective Sept. 10. DFP members will be entitled to free membership in Holiday Inn's Priority Club program, eligible for special room rates, free upgrades, express check-in and check-out and late check- out. They will earn 500 miles per qualifying stay at Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels and resorts and 250 miles per qualifying stay at all Holiday Inn Express Hotels.
Collins intends to win certification of a multi-mode receiver landing system for Boeing and Airbus airliners. The standard GLU-900 MMR combines instrument landing and global navigation satellite system functions in a single unit. A microwave landing system interface is optional. The company says the system is a cost-effective way to prepare for the transition to space-based landing systems. It will be offered on Boeing's next-generation 737 and certified on a Maersk Air 737-700 in October 1997.
British Airways and privately owned Indian domestic carrier, Jet Airways, signed an agreement to establish a reciprocal frequent flyer program. Starting Nov. 1, the program will cover 174 BA destinations in 83 countries and 19 points in India served by Jet Airways. BA passengers will earn free tickets for travel across India for miles flown on BA, and Jet Airways passengers will gain access to international travel on BA routes.
Charleston, S.C., closed its airport at 2 p.m. yesterday in anticipation of landfall later in the day by Category 3 Hurricane Fran. Delta canceled all flights to Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Greensboro and Norfolk after 5 p.m. USAir canceled flights at Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Savannah.
Embraer President Mauricio Novis Botelho, pleased with the company's sale of up to 200 EMB-145 regional jets, said this week that as the 50-passenger aircraft is introduced into service, the Brazilian company will look at other projects, "and I assume they will be jet." Some close to the company believe the ill-fated 19-passenger EMB-123 pusher turboprop should be stretched to seat 30 passengers and the turboprops replaced with fans.
British Airways has signed an agreement with British Aerospoace Asset Management Inc.- Turboprops (BAe AMT) extending leases on 10 advanced turboprops until 1998. Manx Airlines Europe and Loganair, BA's largest franchisee, will operate ATP service on the Highlands and Islands air services formerly operated by BA.
A six-month joint study by Airbus Industrie and General Electric on whether the proposed stretched A340 should be powered by an uprated engine or an entirely new powerplant is to be completed by the end of October, and one GE official is leaning toward the new engine.
DOT has made final its show cause order tentatively granting Pro Air an operating certificate to provide interstate scheduled passenger service. Headquartered in Seattle, Pro Air plans to operate initially from its base in Detroit to Baltimore, Milwaukee and Boston, using two 118-seat Boeing 737-200 aircraft (DAILY, Aug. 16). (Dockets OST-96-1075&OST-96-1076)
Lockheed Martin is taking aim at the newly prominent market for airport baggage security checking with a device that uses technology currently found mainly in medical equipment. The "eXaminer 3DX 6000" will inspect baggage moving on conveyors from airport ticket counters or curbside to aircraft loading stations. Baggage will pass through the system's tunnel at an average rate of 675 bags per hour, providing for effective screening of passenger baggage from a 747 in 40 minutes or less.
Fairchild Dornier will decide by the end of September whether to produce a fan-powered, 30-passenger version of the Do 328. Technical and marketing studies are near completion, DAILY affiliate Show Daily was told Monday by Dornier Luftfahrt President Jim Robinson. "The whole benefit is that we get there first" (with a 30-passenger jet). Robinson pegged the sticker price at slightly more than the 328, or about $10 million.
Alaska Air Group subsidiary Horizon posted 85 million revenue passenger miles flown last month, a 1% increase from August 1995's 84 million RPMs. Capacity, however, dipped 2.3% to 131 million available seat miles, compared with last year's 134 million. Aug 96 Aug 95 8 Mths 96 8 Mths 95 RPMs 85,000,000 84,000,000 584,000,000 561,000,000 ASMs 131,000,000 134,000,000 971,000,000 952,000,000 LoadFtr% 65.1 63.2 60.1 58.9
