Some FAA units are not coordinating their research with the Human Factors Division, even though the division is "primarily responsible for allocating and coordinating" FAA resources for work involving human factors, the General Accounting Office found. GAO commented, however, that the "organizational structure for FAA's work on human factors is still evolving," and it is "too soon to evaluate the effectiveness" of FAA's procedures for incorporating human factors considerations throughout the agency.
Both traffic and capacity fell for Alaska Air Group subsidiary Horizon Air last month - revenue passenger miles dropped to 73 million from 75 million in June 1995, and available seat miles declined 2.3% to 120 million from the prior period's 123 million. Load factor fell 0.3 points to 60.6% from 60.9%. Enplanements dropped to 320,000 from 342,300.
General Electric Aircraft Engine said FAA has certified its GE90-92B at 92,000 pounds takeoff thrust, "making it the highest-thrust engine ever certified by the FAA." The certification means flight testing of the 777- 200IGW (increased gross weight) aircraft can begin in September. GE said the engine will the first certified for aircraft's operating range of 7,200 nautical miles. It will be derated to 90,000 pounds when it enters service with British Airways early next year.
Diagnostic/Retrieval Systems promoted Nancy Pitek to VP-finance. $end 33 NAMES IN AVIATION: Industry FlightSafety International FlightSafety International named Don Roney manager-FlightSafety Learning Center at San Antonio and Tim Fallon regional marketing manager-maintenance training, a new position.
European governments should sell their ownership of aerospace companies to clear the way for creation of large private companies that can compete head to head with U.S. and emerging Asian competitors, according to Donald Spiers, president of the U.K.'s Royal Aeronautical Society.
One of the next steps in the eight-year-old effort to develop common U.S.- Europe civil airworthiness standards will involve the design and testing of hydraulic systems. FAA is asking for comments on its harmonization proposal by Oct. 1.
Fokker Services, the surviving maintenance unit of the bankrupt Dutch aircraft manufacturer, signed a memorandum of understanding with Merpati Nusantara Airlines to look into the creation of a company in Indonesia to maintain Merpati's Fokker fleet. Fokker Services said it is holding talks aimed at reaching similar agreements with other airlines in Asia and the Americas. Merpati operates 46 Dutch aircraft, mainly Fokker 27s and Fokker 28s.
As airlines forge more international alliances, so do the airline's unions. The Air Line Pilots Association unit at United has signed a letter of understanding that calls for closer cooperation with its counterparts at Lufthansa.
Eurowings, Germany's major regional airline, announced record net profits following two years of losses after it was formed in the merger of RFG and NFD. The airline recorded net profits of 2.1 million Deutschmarks - about US$1.38 million - for the year ended Dec. 31, 1995, as revenues increased 30% to DM410 million - about $269 million. The results represent a turnaround of almost DM10 million, following losses of DM7.7 million in 1994.
AMR Eagle is eyeing development of up to 15 or 16 loading bridges at Chicago O'Hare's Concourse G designed for its ATR 42/72 turboprops. Passengers currently must use stairwells for access. Responding to passenger gripes, Eagle already has developed adapters for existing loading bridges throughout its system to provide direct access to the ATRs. The approximately $11 million Chicago project will give turboprop passengers, for the first time, loading bridge access to aircraft at both ends of the trip. The project could begin this fall.
FAA said it fined Delta $650,000 for operating a Boeing 757 on 476 scheduled flights without conducting an engine thrust reverser inspection mandated after the Lauda Air accident, in which the thrust reversers deployed in flight. The agency said its airworthiness directive required a modification of the thrust reversers by installing an additional locking feature, plus inspections after every 1,000 flight hours. The locking features prevent the thrust reversers from deploying in flight.
...Robinson, who is receiving "a piece of the company" for his efforts, said the 30-passenger 328 is a good product, but that the current work force of 2,600 at Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich, must be reduced by at least 1,000 as "the first piece of business." The second is the planned stretch of the aircraft to 50 passengers, a commitment made to customers by Carl Albert, chairman of Fairchild and Dornier. In addition, the stand-up cabin 19- passenger Metro likely will be developed at Dornier, where engineering is a strong point.
National Business Aircraft Association has selected Ralph Michalka, of Parmcia Upjohn, to receive its 1996 Maintenance Technician of the Year and Flight Instructor of the Year awards.
U.S. and France agreed to meet again in the fall after completing two days of exploratory talks last Wednesday. The U.S. is scheduled to meet early in August for negotiations with Pakistan, in which the two sides are expected to consider modernizing the current agreement but stop well short of open skies.
Lufthansa announced a pre-tax profit of 100 million Deutschmarks for the first half of 1996, down 47% from DM189 million in the same period in 1995. "Our transport volumes and results fell well short of our expectations," said Chairman Jurgen Weber. Lufthansa blamed the losses on discounting by government-subsidized carriers, such as Air France, and the impact of an April fire at Dusseldorf. The carrier said it has cut prices to match competitors since June and imposed a ceiling on hiring.
After a five-year absence from the market, British Airways has resumed service between London and San Diego. The daily flights operate via Phoenix with a DC-10 aircraft to London Gatwick Airport, where BA has been adding flights in recent months.
Air France has signed a contract to charter the Concorde to Concorde Spirit Tours for a special flight on New Year's Eve in 1999. The group will offer a trip enabling passengers to celebrate the new millennium in four different spots on Earth.
Cincinnati-based Comair this week launched jet service between Roanoke and Cincinnati with Canadair Jets and upgraded a second Cincinnati-Cedar Rapids flight to jet service. Comair, which has served Roanoke since 1984, upgraded one of its four daily flights in the market to the CRJ aircraft, effective July 1. On the same date, it upgraded a second of three daily flights to the CRJ service in the Cedar Rapids market. The first jet upgrade was made June 1.
Mesa Air Group flew 115.8 million revenue passenger miles in June, a 5.4% increase from June 1995, as capacity declined 0.8% to 195.7 million available seat miles from 197.4 million. Passenger boardings rose 0.6% to 562,071 from 558,702 in the prior period. For the first six months of the year, RPMs climbed 20.2% to 679.9 million from 565.4 million; ASMs rose 6.9% to 1.21 billion from 1.13 billion, and load factor rose 6.2 points to 56.1%. Enplanements increased 7% to 3,196,657.
The Senate is scheduled to begin consideration Monday of the small- business tax relief bill (H.R.3448), which includes reinstatement of aviation excise taxes through Dec. 31 (DAILY, June 14). In its report (Senate 104-281) on the bill, the Senate Finance Committee said a short- term extension of the excise taxes will provide needed revenues "while allowing a more complete review of the bases on which the excise taxes are calculated" once FAA completes a cost allocation study. The bill would reinstate the taxes seven days after enactment.
Telecommunications Act of 1996 will promote the proliferation of hazardous tall towers, primarily transmission and relay towers for cellular telephone and direct broadcast TV systems, by making it difficult for state and local governments to control their construction and location, according to Frank Jensen, president of Helicopter Association International. "Towers hundreds of feet tall can appear by the thousands, unannounced, within the next few years," Jensen said.
