Shipments of general aviation airplanes increased 10.3% in the first six months to 503 units valued at $1.25 billion, compared with 456 units worth $1.27 billion during the same period a year ago. Shipments of jet aircraft dropped 9.5%, to 95 from 105, but piston-engine aircraft shipments rose 11.9% to 273 from 244 and turboprop shipments 26.2% to 135 from 107, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association said. Exports stood at 160 units compared with 124, a 29% increase. Export billings rose 17.9% to $332.4 million from $281.9 million.
McDonnell Douglas said its MD Explorer is the first helicopter to receive "complete validation" by the 27 European members of the Joint Aviation Authorities. The company said it expects JAA members to issue type certificates within the month on the aircraft, four units of which are operating in Europe.
Virgin Atlantic Airways has asked the U.S. DOT for authority to serve Kansas City, Mo., under a blocked-space agreement with Midwest Express Airlines. Under the arrangement, Virgin proposes placing its code on certain Midwest Express flights operating between Boston and Kansas City beginning Sept. 9. The two carriers already provide code-share service between Boston and Milwaukee. (Docket OST-96-1576)
Granted orally to AHK Air Hong Kong an exemption to conduct scheduled all-cargo service between Hong Kong and Chicago with technical stops in Japan (Kansai International), Korea and/or Anchorage.
FAA Administrator David Hinson and National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jim Hall have reached "tentative agreement" on how to define accidents, according to Hinson. Now, an arm broken in turbulence will be given the same weight as "a complete hull loss." The Hinson-Hall pact will go to ICAO in an attempt to standardize definitions worldwide.
Air China has ordered three 747-400s valued at $510 million for use on routes to the U.S., Europe and Asia, Boeing said Friday. The company said Air China has ordered 47 of its aircraft, and China has taken delivery of more than 250 of them, representing more than 70% of the market for Western-built aircraft.
United hired 263 maintenance technicians, more than any other airline, from June 1995 to June 1996. American hired 258, according to the Future Aviation Professionals of America. Zantop International, which has been discussing a maintenance contract with ValuJet, hired 79 in the past 12 months. FAPA said Zantop is recruiting engine mechanics, flight line electricians, A&P mechanics, sheetmetalists and painters this month.
Hawaiian Airlines Inc. postponed plans for its rights offering, which had been scheduled last Thursday. The company said only that it will announce a new date in advance and mail a prospectus and subscription materials to shareholders as of the record date. Under the offering, shareholders other than the company's main investor, Airline Investors Partnership L.P., will receive one subscription right for each share of common stock it holds.
FAA said it completed on-time delivery of the Voice Switching and Control System June 28 when the last of 21 installations arrived at the Jacksonville, Fla., air route traffic control center. It is scheduled to be operational in February. FAA said VSCS, the largest automation system it has ever introduced, is fully operational at 11 en route centers.
Former DOT Inspector General Mary Schiavo, outlining to Congress what she described as a pattern of "vastly different" abuses at FAA, said there is a "common thread." Managers are "not held accountable for decisions that reflect poor judgment," and taking FAA independent "is only going to increase the problem."
British Midland has become the 41st participant in Infini's Locator Back system, which registers airlines' record locators in Infini's passenger name records.
DOT is seeking comments on a complaint brought by Northwest against the government of Indonesia. The carrier asserts that Indonesia is preventing it from exercising its bilateral rights to carry fifth-freedom traffic between Japan and Indonesia. The deadline for answers to the complaint is Aug. 1, and replies are due Aug. 6. (Docket OST-96-1547)
Delta will launch a SkyMiles dining program Aug. 15 that offers members three miles for every dollar they spend at participating restaurants. Delta's program does not require a special dining card or membership fee, or limit the number of visits per month to a restaurant. Members can pay for the meal in any form and receive the mileage credit by showing their SkyMiles card.
DOT has dismissed without prejudice Jet Aspen's certificate application and withdrawn its Jan. 19 show cause order tentatively granting the certificate. Objections to the show cause order filed by Tri Star Airlines and Peak International "raised issues pertinent to the applicant's compliance disposition," said DOT.
The Senate Appropriations Committee last week restored funding for development of the terminal digital radar program, ASR-11, which was zeroed in the House version of the fiscal 1997 DOT appropriations bill (H.R.3675). The Senate panel recommended $20 million for the program, $3.3 million less than the Clinton administration request. The committee restored $7.35 million cut by the House from the advanced en route automation (AERA) program request.
American's Sabre computer reservations system processed a record 4,969 messages per second on July 15, in large part because of the fare sales sparked by Southwest's $25 travel offer. The previous record, 4,802 messages per second, was set March 11.
United urged DOT to defer action on Continental Micronesia's application for renewal of its U.S.-Philippines service until all applications to serve the market and responsive pleadings have been received. "A piecemeal approach risks denial of due process in circumstances where there may be mutual exclusivity depending on the content of the remaining applications," United said, noting that applications are not due until Aug. 2.
In Federal Register dated July 12...Issued an airworthiness directive on Pratt&Whitney PW4000 engines to require inspection of the aft cascade support frame assembly of the thrust reverser...Issued an AD on Rolls-Royce RB211 engines requiring replacement of the existing rigid low-pressure fuel system tube assembly...Proposed an AD on certain Airbus A310 and A300-600 aircraft concerning inspections for debonding of elevator skins...Proposed an AD on Shorts Sherpa series aircraft concerning icing conditions...Proposed an AD on Shorts SD3 aircraft concerning corrosion
