Air Line Pilots Association President Randolph Babbitt said pilots are strong supporters of FAA's Air Carrier Familiarization program despite criticism by the DOT Inspector General's office that FAA has allowed the program to be misused. In a letter to DOT Secretary Federico Pena, Babbitt said pilots believe there is "no substitute for the face-to-face exchange between pilots and controllers in jumpseats.
Alaska Airlines' says its new advertising campaign has changed customer perceptions about how expensive it is. Goodby Silverstein&Partners, which created the ads, surveyed customers on the West Coast before and after the ads ran. A significantly higher percentage of the post-ad respondents agreed with the statement, Alaska has consistently low fares. Alaska said it ranks second, behind Southwest, in people's perceptions of who has the lowest fares.
Air Transport Association believes FAA should drop its $475 million Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) program, under contract to a Wilcox- led team, because the agency has another, little-known program that can do the job as well at a fraction of the cost.
Hilton Hotels has joined Midwest Express Airlines' frequent flyer program. Program members will earn 500 miles for business-rate stays at any of 210 U.S. Hilton hotels. Members of Hilton's guest reward program can redeem HHonors points for free travel, and frequent flyer members can participate in the HHonors Reward Exchange, which swaps points for miles and miles for points.
United Friday announced a four-for-one stock split of its common shares. If shareholders approve the move, slated for May 6, it would bring the company's share price more in line with that of other companies on the New York Stock Exchange and make it easier for smaller investors to purchase shares in the company. United's shares currently trade in the top 1% of all NYSE companies, closing February at 178 5/8. May 6 also will be the day of record for the split. If approved, shares will be mailed in late May.
The U.S. will seek more service opportunities and carrier designations when it resumes negotiations with Brazil late in April. Continental and Delta seek entry to the market, now dominated by American and United. Tower Air also is designated.
Northwest will add seasonal daily service between Detroit and Vancouver, to be operated June 1-Sept. 30. During the same period, the carrier will boost capacity 50% to Vancouver and Calgary from Minneapolis.
The new Pan Am Air Bridge, formerly Chalk's International Airlines, made its inaugural flight Friday, from Chalk's Seaplane Base at Watson Island in Miami to Key West and Fort Jefferson. The resurrected Pan Am will operate with five seaplanes and has options to buy 12 more. The Pan Am Air Bridge Partnership Group comprises Pan Am founder Martin Shugrue, Pan Am Air Bridge Chief Executive Chuck Slagle, Advisory Board Chairman Chuck Cobb and Dacra Development President Craig Robins.
American and Citibank have started distributing Citibank AAdvantage cards in Peru. Frequent flyer program members in Peru will earn one AAdvantage mile for every U.S. dollar or nuevo sol equivalent charged on the card.
Air France will add its improved business- and first-class products on flights between Paris and Miami May 27. The upgrades are part of a $100 million makeover the carrier launched last year.
George Black, who has been director of transportation for Gwinnett County, Ga., was sworn in as the newest member of the National Transportation Safety Board. As county traffic engineer, he founded an accident investigation unit that looked into more than 1,500 vehicular crashes.
Federal Express named eight VPs in its new Latin American division: Juan Cento, VP-South America and Central America; Julio Colomba VP-South America and Caribbean; Karen Dreyer VP-finance; Charles Kennedy VP-legal; Walter Kimbrough VP-personnel; Michael Murkowski VP-marketing, sales and customer service; Rick Nixon VP-sales, and Diane Stokely VP-planning and administration.
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach has named TWA the official airline of the 22nd annual race, to be held April 12-14. This is TWA's eighth year as a participant.
USAir Express carrier PSA Airlines will begin nonstop service April 14 between Pittsburgh and New Haven, Conn., using Dornier 328 aircraft. New Haven is one of six new cities served under the USAir/British Airways code- sharing agreement. USAir Express also serves New Haven from Baltimore- Washington, Washington National and Philadelphia.
Regional Airline Association is preparing to challenge research used by FAA to justify a proposed rule on flight and duty time for commercial pilots, the association announced. RAA President Walt Coleman said this week that the proposal, which was published Dec. 14, "provides no facts, findings or proof that justify the changes which are being proposed." FAA, in justifying the changes, cited a study on fatigue done at NASA's Ames Research Center.
Mesaba Holdings Chief Executive Bryan Bedford is making Dornier and Saab jump through hoops before selecting one of their aircraft for his 50-aircraft fleet replacement program. Dornier is offering the 328 high-speed turboprops; Saab proposes 20 used 340A and 30 new 340BPlus aircraft. There is talk of lease payments in the low 30s and free training throughout the life of the program.
Sky Games International Ltd., the software gaming firm, has hired Geller&Co. as an adviser, Sky Games said. Laurence Geller, the principal of Geller&Co., was chief operating officer of Hyatt Development Corp. and previously worked for Holiday Inns and Grand Metropolitan Hotels. He will help Sky Games formulate its strategic direction, the company said. Sky Games has a contract with a major International carrier - believed to be Singapore Airlines - to provide inflight gambling on its flights, starting June 1.
The U.S. and Germany initialed yesterday their open skies aviation agreement, which would double the U.S.-Europe open-skies market in terms of passenger traffic. But refusal by the German government to sign it officially until there is movement on a United-Lufthansa request for antitrust immunity sparked U.S. industry protests. "This agreement - with an aviation partner that has the second-largest European market for U.S. carriers - can dramatically expand service and price options for consumers of both nations," said DOT Secretary Federico Pea.
United has begun a week-long celebration of the anniversary of the opening of Denver Airport, including a birthday party with cake for its customers, an employee recognition day and a surprise for passengers on its 100,000th flight at the airport. On the last day, employees will invite local students to accompany them on their jobs to learn about the aviation industry.
DOT has renewed for one year Atlant-SV Airlines' rights to operate charter combination service between any point or points in Ukraine and any point or points in the U.S. The carrier, which had applied for two-year renewal, said it expects to begin the service "within the next year as it formalizes marketing arrangements in the United States and Ukraine to support such services" (DAILY, Jan. 11). Privately owned Atlant-SV is Ukraine's second-largest carrier. (Docket OST-95-977)
Transaero's bid for renewal of its U.S.-Russia authority has gained the support of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), the proprietor of Washington Dulles and National airports.
British Airways is considering spinning off its British Airways Engineering unit into a separate company to make it more competitive and less reliant on business from the airline.BA says the spinoff would not result in layoffs and no final decision has been made, but it will trim jobs at the unit over the next three years.
