International Lease Finance Corp. has leased one Airbus A330-300 aircraft to Dragonair of Hong Kong, for delivery next June, and two A321s to Air Macau, for delivery in February and April. The A330 will be Dragonair's fourth from ILFC. Air Macau currently leases two A320s and two A321s.
Malaysian Airlines has ordered a Boeing 777 full-flight simulator from FlightSafety Simulation. The device will be installed in the first quarter of 1998 at the carrier's training center at Kuala Lumpur Airport. MAS will receive the first of 15 777s next May.
Rohr, as expected, announced the launch of the "Super 27" program to re- engine Boeing 727 aircraft with new Pratt&Whitney JT8D engines so they will meet FAA and ICAO noise rules (DAILY, Aug. 28). Rohr, with P&W support, will market the program worldwide. There are 1,370 727s in service, and Rohr says the re-engined aircraft will have a longer range provided by improved fuel consumption.
FAA Administrator David Hinson said the Royal Aeronautical Society agreed to a request by FAA and the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority to host a two-day conference this spring on ways to make safety data instantly available online to aviation professionals worldwide. The conference will be the second meeting devoted to developing the Global Analysis and Information Network (GAIN) concept. The first GAIN conference, scheduled Oct. 22-24 in Boston, will serve to exchange ideas and develop a GAIN prototype.
If history is a guide, Boeing will cultivate airlines outside the U.S. far more than domestic carriers as prospects for its 747-500X and 747-600X derivatives. Of 1,084 747s delivered as of Aug. 15, 79% were acquired by international carriers. Of 610 747-400s ordered and delivered so far, the non-U.S. airline share is 90%. Only nine aircraft among 125 unfilled 747 orders will go to U.S. airlines.
Integrated express companies such as FedEx, UPS, Airborne and Emery had nearly 85% of the $20 billion domestic market in 1995, according to Air Cargo Management Group. "That market share continues to grow at the expense of the freight forwarders who work with specialist all-cargo airlines and the combination passenger/cargo airlines."
Communication Systems Technology Inc. promoted Katherine DeVito to group manager of Communication Products Group, a subdivision of CSTI's Communication Solutions Division.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers International Traffic, February 1996 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles Carriers (000) Change (Miles) (000) Alaska 58 22.96 1,059 61,821 Latin 58 22.96 1,059 61,821 American 1,095 10.21 2,057 2,252,628
AEI said it has signed a contract valued at $6 million to manage Vishay Intertechnology's air freight business linking U.S., European and Middle Eastern manufacturing plants with customers throughout the world. The contract includes customs brokerage services. Vishay is one of the largest U.S.-based manufacturers of "passive" electronic components, resistors, capacitors and inductors.
American Society of Travel Agents will hold a Travel Industry Forum for all non-airline areas of the industry Sept. 12 in conjunction with its annual March on Washington. ASTA spokesman Steve Loucks said travel agents are trying to lessen their reliance on airline ticket sales, and "we spend so much time on aviation issues and in conversation with the airlines that it is felt we need to concentrate through a forum" on other travel providers.
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Airbus Industrie will have a military aircraft division in the not-too- distant future, responsible for fighter as well as transport aircraft, Daimler-Benz Aerospace Chairman Manfred Bischoff said at the pre- Farnborough Financial Times conference. Airbus already has been chosen to develop a new C-130-size European military transport if governments fund it.
TWA will purchase an 87,000-square-foot office building three miles from its facilities at St. Louis Lambert Airport from McDonnell Douglas for use as its new headquarters building. TWA will begin moving into the building this winter. It is located in the Brown Campus area of Hazelwood.
Mercury Air Group said yesterday it has completed the $8.5 million acquisition from Raytheon Aircraft Services of five FBOs at "strategic airport locations throughout the U.S." - Ontario Airport, Calif.; Hartsfield Airport, Atlanta; Peachtree-DeKalb Airport, Ga.; Corpus Christi Airport, Texas, and Addison Airport, Texas.
National Mediation Board will mail ballots Sept. 4 to ValuJet's 78 mechanics and inspectors to vote on representation by the Teamsters union. The ballots will be counted Oct. 2. The Teamsters said in-house ValuJet mechanics "have seen their own professionalism tarnished by criticism of the company's maintenance program. They are seeking Teamster representation to protect their jobs and to expand the airline's in-house capabilities."
United Express affiliate Atlantic Coast Airlines will begin Washington Dulles-Detroit Metro service Oct. 31, the regional announced. The same day, it will launch service between Richmond and Newark. The carrier will offer four roundtrips each business day between Dulles and Detroit, with limited service on weekends. Senior VP-Sales and Services Mike Davis said, "Detroit is a new market for United Express, and we are excited about expanding our service to the upper Midwest region."
World airframe builders will produce 25,830 airplanes valued at $625.9 billion between 1996 and 2005, according to a forecast by the Teal Group, to be made public at the Farnborough Air Show. Teal also predicts the demise of Douglas Aircraft. Some 5,622 commercial jet transports valued at $343.7 billion will make up about 55% of the projected number, Teal Group analysts said in their first world aircraft forecast.
DOT denied Pan Am's application for an exemption to carry revenue cargo on early-September proving flights it will conduct for FAA Part 121 certification. Noting that interested parties have until Wednesday to present answers to its Aug. 20 show cause order tentatively granting Pan Am a certificate, DOT said it would be inappropriate for the applicant to engage in revenue-producing activities until a final order has been issued. Pan Am said it had tentative commitments for cargo shipments if it could win the exemption. (Docket OST-96-1663)
The Society of Aerospace Communicators is the host of a luncheon meeting on airline globalization finances Sept. 24 at the University Club in New York City. Salomon Brothers financial airline analyst, Julius Maldutis, will join a discussion with a panel of airline represen-tatives: Sandy Gardiner, British Airways; Paul Mifsud, KLM; Carlos de Oliverro Muzzio, Varig; Stephen Cochrane, Aeromexico; Mickey Gat, El Al; S. Ghose, Air-India, and Donald McSullivan, Pan Am.
Delta VP-Flight Operations Dave Greenberg will take early retirement, effective Oct. 31, after more than 27 years with the airline. Richard Colby, director-flight operations and chief pilot, will succeed Greenberg.
