The government of Bolivia sold half of Lloyd Aero Boliviano (LAB) to Brazilian carrier VASP late last week, according to DAILY affiliate Aviation Latin America&Caribbean. The sale went through after the failure of last-minute efforts to attract interest from LanChile. LAB's pilots promptly went on strike to protest the sale, but the government said the deal is final, Aviation Latin America&Caribbean reported.
American said it plans to begin its recently awarded Miami/New York- Vancouver services March 2, 1996. One of six carriers receiving new Vancouver frequencies last week (DAILY, Oct. 19), American will operate one daily roundtrip on both routes, using Boeing 757 aircraft. Also, American's code-sharing partner, Canadian Airlines International, will place its designator code on the flights, as it does on American's current service between Dallas/Fort Worth and Vancouver.
LanChile applied for renewal of its authority to serve Asuncion, Paraguay, as an intermediate point in its scheduled all-cargo service between Santiago, Chile, and Miami. The carrier also requested blind-sector authority to commingle traffic moving between Santiago and Asuncion with traffic moving in foreign transportation. LanChile operates three weekly flights in the market using DC-8 aircraft. (Docket 49826&OST-95-720)
The U.S. government decided last week to end aviation bilateral talks with the U.K. after the British insisted on phased service to London Heathrow to the exclusion of some U.S. gateway cities. The U.K. government's proposal offered one London Heathrow and two London Gatwick opportunities beginning next summer, and a second to Heathrow in 1997. Those services would have been limited to a maximum of one daily flight for two years, however. Industry sources said TWA would have been the big loser if the deal had gone forward.
MarkAir's unsecured creditors committee has filed with an Anchorage bankruptcy court a motion for the sale of the Chapter 11 carrier's Denver operations. B&T Flyer Holdings, a Delaware corporation, wants to buy MarkAir, and the value of the carrier's assets, expected to be about $8.2 million, is being assessed and should be determined by the end of this month.
BWIA International Airways is launching its own frequent flyer program for Caribbean travelers. BWIA said it will retain its relationship as a partner in Continental's OnePass program, enabling OnePass members to earn and redeem awards on BWIA. Continental will join BWIA's program, enabling BWIA frequent flyers to earn free flights to hundreds of cities throughout Continental's route system. BWIA program members will earn at least 500 miles on every BWIA flight, and members paying full coach fares will receive a 15% mileage bonus.
Adopted an AD on certain Fokker F28 Mark 0100 series aircraft requiring a visual inspection to detect damage to the flexible fuel drain line of the auxiliary power unit, and the installation of two additional clamps to secure the drain line to the APU fuel supply line.
Superseded an airworthiness directive on Schweitzer and Hughes Helicopters Model 269A, 269A-1, 269B, 269C and TH- 55A helicopters with certain main rotor drive shafts, amending inspection requirements.
Superseded an AD on Airbus Industrie A300 series aircraft, providing for modifications to relax or terminate requirements for repetitive inspections for cracking of the No. 2 flap beams.
UPS is extending an option to purchase its stock to all part-time employees with at least one year of service. The company on Oct. 2 offered a similar purchase program to full-time non-management employees. "The global marketplace is changing rapidly, and it's critical to our success that everyone at UPS is ready to accept their important roles in our business," said Chairman Kent Nelson. UPS intended not to make the decision on part- time employees until it had measured the impact of the first offering.
International Lease Finance Corp. said it sold $100 million of five-year, 6 l/4%, senior, unsecured, non-callable notes maturing Oct. 15, 2000. The notes are underwritten by Salomon Brothers. Proceeds will be used to buy aircraft and to repay maturing commercial paper.
Revised a proposal to supersede an AD on Teledyne Continental Motors (formerly Bendix) S-20, S-1200, D-2000 and D-3000 series magnetos equipped with impulse couplings.
***U.S. Major and National Carriers Rental Expense*** Second Quarter 1995 % Of Total Operating Systemwide Expenses America West $ 61,981,525 17.75 American 279,290,000 7.93 Continental 164,259,000 13.87 Delta 269,688,000 9.47
The Atlanta-based carrier signed a letter of intent to explore a commercial arrangement with American MagLev Technology Inc., which wants to build and operate a rapid rail system in Florida. Cooperation could include flight/rail scheduling, participation in Delta's SkyMiles program, joint promotions and insourcing for Delta in computer reservations and passenger and baggage handling. Delta said a rail system could connect passengers to points not readily accessible by air, increasing its Florida service.
British Airways has confirmed that it is unlikely to get its first Boeing 777 this month. The airplane was originally due to be delivered at the end of September, but General Electric engine test delays slowed it down and now Boeing Machinists are on strike. BA said "penalty costs are a matter between the parties concerned."
Adopted an AD on certain McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10, -15, -30 and -40 series aircraft, and KC-10 series military aircraft, requiring inspections to detect cracking of the wing pylon aft bulkheads and upper spar webs, with replacement or repair as necessary.
After preliminary talks with Thailand early this month, U.S. officials are asking interested parties whether there should be further informal talks soon. "There are some hopeful signs," said a U.S. government official. The two countries have been without a bilateral since Thailand renounced the agreement in 1990.
Adopted an AD on certain Jetstream ATP aircraft requiring inspections to ensure that various components of the nose landing gear retraction actuator are secure, and to determine that the hole and thread length of bearing cap mounting holes are correct; and a later inspection for certain discrepancies of the retraction actuator; installation of revised tolerance bushings, and correction of any discrepancies.
Machinist union officials at Boeing believe the National Labor Relations Board will move quickly to "get to the root" of the striking union's charges that the company's bargaining tactics sabotaged contract talks. Union officials met Friday with an NLRB regional director to discuss the unfair labor practice complaint, based on the union's charge that Boeing would not provide information on health insurance costs and job subcontracting.
BFGoodrich Aerospace promoted Ron Hodges to group general manager- Rosemount Aerospace; Cal Purdin to group general manager-aircraft integrated systems; Al Daniels to general manager-commercial fuel and integrated systems; Robert Mason to general manager military fuel and integrated systems; Bill Walthall to general manager aircraft evacuation systems; Mike Piscatella to general manager-commercial aircraft wheels and brakes, and Jay Cross to director-aircraft evacuation service centers.
