Microsoft said Boeing selected its Exchange Server for the Windows NT operating system as the primary messaging and workgroup server for 65,000 employees around the world. Boeing will use the Microsoft exchange server to replace more than seven current electronic mail systems when the project is completed in 1997.
DOT has granted American's application for seven additional U.S.-Brazil frequencies, while dismissing Continental's bid for services in the market. American plans to use the frequencies to operate daily nonstop service between New York and Rio de Janeiro, using 162-seat Boeing 767-200ER aircraft, beginning June 16 (DAILY, Feb. 12). The frequencies became available in January when United informed DOT it was deferring indefinitely plans to operate daily Miami-Sao Paulo service.
Spirit Airlines will inaugurate flights to Myrtle Beach, S.C., from Detroit June 1 with fares beginning at $69 each way. No roundtrip purchase is required. Myrtle Beach, in the past decade, has "evolved into a tourist mecca," the carrier said, with a 60-mile stretch of beaches, 91 championship golf courses, 11 live-performance theaters and two amusement parks. Spirit, which was acquired by Delta Connection Comair parent Comair Holdings last week, operates DC-9 aircraft (DAILY, March 25).
Northwest will begin operating daily flights from its Minneapolis hub to Saginaw/Bay City/Midland, Mich., June 1. The new flights will complement its existing Detroit-Saginaw service.
Boeing Wichita will convert six more 747-200s into freighters for Atlas Air, bringing to 13 the number of 747s Atlas has contracted with Boeing to convert. The six are to undergo conversion beginning next month with the last to be redelivered to Atlas in September 1997. "In a relatively short time Atlas Air has become a major player in the air cargo industry and we are proud to have played a part in that success," said Vic McMullen, director of the modification center in Wichita. He said that Boeing has modified 67 of its 747s into freighters.
Innotech Aviation opened a customer service facility at its Montreal aircraft completion and refurbishment center. It also announced that the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China awarded it a maintenance organization certification for work on Cessna Citation aircraft.
AlliedSignal Aerospace has completed an agreement for a joint venture with Chinese Research Institute of Aero Accessories, the environmental control systems supplier for the state-owned Aviation Industries of China, to produce equipment for the Chinese and international markets.
FAA has issued a record of decision (ROD) approving the final environmental impact statement for land acquisition and a replacement passenger terminal at Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport, ending almost six years of environmental review required by California and federal law. The ROD clears the acquisition of 140 acres of land to the east of the airport's north-south runway, as well as a new terminal to be built at a site farther away from the runways then the current terminal.
Banner Aerospace, Washington, D.C., said it has acquired Harco, a $30 million distributor of precision fasteners to the aerospace industry. Harco, El Segundo, Calif., will operate as a subsidiary of Banner, and its president, Tucker Nason, will continue in that position. He also was named president and chief executive of Burbank Aircraft Supply, Banner's largest subsidiary, said John Wertz, chief executive of Banner.
Vision Air has applied for a certificate to operate scheduled combination service between various points in the U.S. and U.K. The potential new entrant plans to begin service June 1 between New York Kennedy and London Stansted Airport. The carrier plans to use Lockheed L-1011 aircraft, leased from IAL Aircraft Holding, and base its operations at JFK's International Arrivals Building. Vision's president is Vincent Civitello, former manager of international planning at United. (Docket OST-96-1185)
FAA in the past week or so has hired 26 former Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) controllers. Fourteen are going to the Chicago center, seven to the Indianapolis center and five to the Chicago Tracon. This is in addition to the 16 who recently received notices to go to the New York Tracon. The New York Tracon is having difficulty attracting workers. Six of the 16 FAA wanted to hire turned down the agency, and FAA is working on an alternate list.
Members of Delta's Air Line Pilots Association unit have until April 13 to return ballots on their tentative agreement with the company. Ballots will be counted April 23.
In a surprise move, Access U.S.-Japan has filed at DOT in support of a bid by United, a critic of the coalition, to operate Chicago-Osaka, Seattle- Tokyo/Osaka and Washington-Tokyo/Osaka services. In separate filings, the coalition also supported applications by TWA for St. Louis-Tokyo/Osaka services and American for Chicago/Dallas/Fort Worth/Los Angeles/New York- Osaka flights.
Robert Wolfe, president of Pratt&Whitney Large Commercial Engines, sees consolidation ahead for the three major engine manufacturers - P&W, GE Aircraft Engines and Rolls-Royce - but not as a result of company decisions to sell or merge. "I see consolidation eventually," but more in joint ventures such as the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) program on which Pratt and GE are teaming, he said yesterday at the Aerospace Finance '96 conference in Arlington, Va., sponsored by The McGraw-Hill Companies' Aviation Week Group.
Aeroperu's soon-to-be-started Newark-Lima flights will continue on to Buenos Aires, Argentina, the carrier said. The service will begin March 29 with a single roundtrip per week, operated through a code share with Mexicana. A 156-seat, all-economy A320 will be used on the route.
FAA has approved the Greater Orlando, Fla., Aviation Authority's application to collect and use $89.1 million in passenger facility charges for terminal, roadway and people-mover system work at Orlando Airport. FAA approved $13.5 million for the expansion of existing international processing facilities. Other projects include $16.5 million for automated guideway transit vehicle rehabilitation, $8 million for terminal and roadway signage and about $34.5 million for construction and expansion of an east/west airport road interchange.
U.S. aviation negotiators made some headway yesterday in ongoing all-cargo talks with Japan and bilateral discussions with South Africa. The talks with South Africa may be extended beyond tomorrow as the two sides sort through the many issues involved in hammering out an agreement, said a DOT official. "We're making progress," the official said, but added that a number of hurdles need to be cleared, including third-country code sharing. In Tokyo, there has been "some positive movement" in the U.S.-Japan all- cargo talks, said another U.S. official.
E-Systems has received a $13 million initial contract to provide flight controls for Raytheon Premier 1 light business jets and Hawker 800XP mid- size business jets. The total sales potential is more than $200 million.
AirTran Airways has reduced spring fares by as much as 30% in selected markets from Orlando. Tickets must be purchased by April 22 and are good for travel April 24 through June 12. From Orlando, AirTran is offering fares of $49 one way to Nashville, Norfolk and Richmond; $69 to Dallas/Fort Worth, and $79 to Hartford, Rochester and San Antonio. No advance purchase or Saturday night stay is required. AirTran operates a fleet of 10 737s.
A Delaware bankruptcy court has granted TWA a hearing but not a temporary restraining order that would have prevented former TWA Chairman Carl Icahn or his companies from declaring TWA in default of their loan agreement. Icahn has threatened to declare default, but has not taken that action yet, a TWA spokesman said. TWA, as part of a $200 million loan from Icahn in 1992, agreed to pay a portion of the loan by giving Icahn discounted TWA tickets to sell. TWA has a suit pending in a St. Louis court against Icahn and his company, Global Distribution Systems.
U.S. National Carriers Traffic February, 2 Months 1996 February February % 1996 1995 Change Alaska Revenue Passenger Miles (000) 657,000 542,000 21.2 Available Seat Miles (000) 1,111,000 977,000 13.7 Load Factor (%) 59.1 55.5
A U.S. appeals court, handing U.S. and foreign airlines a financial bonanza, ruled yesterday that carriers are not required to pay the detention costs of foreign passengers who seek asylum upon reaching the U.S. The ruling also gives individual airlines the right to seek recovery of detention costs incurred in the past. The suit was brought by the Air Transport Association against the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
FAA Administrator David Hinson said he considered the decision on whether to close Chicago Meigs Field one to be played out in the region, not in Washington. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announced plans to close Meigs and convert the land to a park, an effort that is being fought strongly by the general aviation community. Asked about the Meigs situation last week, Hinson said, "While the FAA is always sad to lose airports from the national airspace system, we recognize that those are local decisions."
The U.S. and France agreed in Paris yesterday to drop mutual sanctions regarding air traffic rights and to resume talks at a later date, with a view to securing a new aviation accord. Under the agreement, Air France can schedule 500 extra flights between Paris and four U.S. cities - Houston, Los Angeles, New York and Washington - this summer. Also, France dropped threats to cut by 170,000 seats the summer capacity of six U.S. carriers - TWA, Tower, American, Delta, Continental and United. In return, the U.S.
