FAA has codified a policy permitting pilots with traffic alert and collision avoidance systems to deviate from air traffic control clearances in non-emergency situations. The old rule permitted pilots to deviate only during emergencies. FAA said it disagrees with a National Air Traffic Controllers Association position that TCAS "has compromised safety."
Worldspan has selected Maxnet Communications Systems Inc. to provide hardware and integration services for the computer reservations system's subscribers installing the new Worldspan RemoteLink product, which it will introduce soon. Maxnet offerings are available through the Worldspan TechXChange program, which introduces and markets independently developed technologies and solutions to subscribers. RemoteLink was developed to enable subscribers to establish fully automated office environments for people who work at home or other remote locations.
Mesa Air Group Chairman Larry Risley has increased his holdings of Mesa common stock by 250,000 to 503,966 shares, making him the largest non- institutional shareholder the company said Friday. Risley acquired the shares by exercising options that were to expire Sept. 28. "This transaction represents my confidence in the future of Mesa Air Group," said Risley. In addition to the shares he holds, Risley also has vested but unexercised options.
DOT has granted Delta's motion to defer action until Jan. 5 on its complaint against the German government and Frankfurt/Main Airport. The carrier filed its complaint Dec. 29, 1993, asserting that Germany and the airport had denied it the right to perform its own ground-handling at its European hub, in violation of the U.S.-Germany aviation agreement. DOT has extended the 180-day statutory limit for action several times (DAILY, Sept. 26). (Docket OST-95-683)
Air Liberte and Euralair have agreed to code share between Paris Orly and Toulouse, one of Europe's five busiest markets, which was opened to competition in January. Together, they will offer 11 frequencies a week, seven operated by Air Liberte and four by Euralair, from 29 Oct. Their current combined total is nine frequencies. Some additional flights will depart from Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport, where Euralair has been holding slots since March.
American Airlines has joined Cargo Media, a special IATA interest group formed in May to develop and promote application of electronic data interchange (EDI) throughout the air cargo industry. The addition brings membership to 17 airlines that handle 75% of the world's scheduled air cargo, American said. Bill Boesch, president of American's cargo division, said EDI will "better enable us to compete with the information systems of the integrated carriers."
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers Domestic Traffic January 1995 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles Carriers (000) Change (Miles) (000) America West 1,167 1.37 769 897,952 American 4,938 3.43 1,052 5,196,494 Continental 2,358 (1.82) 915 2,158,197
The government of Poland is considering privatizing a majority stake of LOT instead of keeping control over its flag carrier, as it intended initially. LOT is scheduled to be privatised in 1996. According to a plan drawn up in 1991, 34% of the company was to be sold to a private investor, while 15% would be distributed to employees and the government would keep 51%. Now, the government is considering a second option, in which it would give up control. The government is expected to choose a consultant in November to advise it on privatization.
Scheduled to end yesterday, negotiations between the U.S. and Hong Kong have been extended through today in Hong Kong. The sides are looking to hammer out a separate U.S.-Hong Kong bilateral before Hong Kong falls under Chinese rule.
TWA unveiled yesterday its new aircraft livery - its first new look since 1974 - with the rollout of a freshly painted DC-9 its Kansas City overhaul base. The new paint scheme includes a combination of red, gold and blue stripes on the lower half of the aircraft. Trans World will be spelled out in blue lettering, and the TWA globe will be background-painted in gold. The tail includes angled red, blue and gold stripes with the familiar TWA red block letters diagonally placed. TWA said its advertising agency, D'Arcy, Masius, Benton&Bowles-St.
DOT took steps to relax its total ban on U.S.-Lebanon air travel, imposed in July 1985. Beginning Oct. 25, U.S. and foreign airlines will be allowed to sell transportation to Lebanon to non-U.S. citizens, and to U.S. citizens who have written permission from the State Department to travel to that country. The exemption implements an order signed Sept. 15 by President Clinton.
John Fugh, a Washington, D.C., lawyer, has been named president of McDonnell Douglas-China. Fugh, who will be stationed in Beijing, will report to Bob Hood, president of Douglas Aircraft. Fugh was the first Chinese-American to attain general officer status in the Army, where he was Judge Advocate General. He retired from that post in July 1993 as a major general. Fugh was born in Beijing and relocated to the U.S. with his family at age 15.
FAA ordered airlines and airports yesterday to conduct more stringent background checks before hiring persons who will have access to secure areas of airports, and it indicated that such checks may be required in the future for new employees who do not have such access. The rule, in the works for several years, will take effect in 120 days. FAA said it will counter "the increased threat of terrorism within the United States," evidenced by the bombings of the World Trade Center and the federal office building in Oklahoma City.
Swissair and Swedish domestic carrier Transwede have signed an agreement to coordinate flights between Switzerland and Sweden (DAILY, Sept. 7). The pact will enable the carriers to code share, subject to government approval, on flights between Stockholm and five Swedish destinations, and Swissair will move into the new terminal at Stockholm. Flight departures in Switzerland and Sweden will be timed to minimize transfer times for connecting passengers. Swissair's flights from Stockholm will operate to Zurich.
Fort Worth, Texas-based Lone Star Airlines beginning tomorrow will offer additional flights from Dallas/Fort Worth to Roswell and Ruidoso, N.M., the airline announced. The carrier will increase service to Ruidoso to two flights daily from the current one, and will offer weekend service to both cities. Previously, neither point received weekend service from Lone Star, but each now will have one weekend flight. Roswell weekday service - two daily flights - will remain the same. The carrier launched service in the markets Sept. 5.
Pacific Western, the new Colorado Springs-based low-fare jet carrier, is considering the establishment of a regional feed operation to further help passengers avoid the new high-cost and high-fare Denver Airport. The carrier is looking at about 10 potential markets to be served with 30- passenger-class airplanes within about 400 miles of its hub - including a number of major ski areas. One such market is Fort Collins, which United Express Mesa was going to drop before changing its mind. That market would virtually overfly DIA.
Jet Aspen has filed an application with DOT for a certificate to operate scheduled and charter combination domestic and overseas service. The Aspen, Colo.-based company proposes initiating in December service from Aspen and Telluride to Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix and Houston, using two BAe 146 aircraft. Currently, Jet Aspen's operating plan calls for one daily or peak-day-of-the-week nonstop flight from Aspen or Telluride to and from each of the destinations.
The Sabre Group's financial performance will not be as "robust" in the second half of 1995 as it was in the first half because of increased product development spending, according to AMR Chairman Robert Crandall. Sabre's first-half pre-tax earnings of $209 million represented a 16.8% gain from the first six months of 1994.
British Aerospace's Asset Management Organization (AMO), which manages a large fleet of used BAe 146 quadjets, has challenged a DAILY report that Delta Connection Atlantic Southeast Airlines may be paying as little as $60,000 per month for five 146-200s it will place in service beginning this fall (DAILY, July 21). AMO says that the value of the aircraft averages $20 million and that the leases are costing ASA in the range of $110,000 to $130,000 per month.
Fine Airlines lodged a complaint at DOT against the government of Peru for barring it from operating to, from, or over Peruvian territory, claiming the ban violates the U.S.-Peru bilateral. Peru imposed the restriction in March without any notice to or consultations with the U.S. government, Fine said, because of reports that the cargo carrier had transported arms from Argentina to Ecuador during hostilities between Ecuador and Peru.
FAA's new Safety Performance Analysis System is in place at four field sites - Pittsburgh, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Jose and San Francisco - and 30 people have been trained to operate it, the agency said yesterday (DAILY, Sept. 8.) It plans to have SPAS software available for more than 180 inspectors at 56 field offices by February. Airline officials have expressed concerns about SPAS, which will compare the performance and records of carriers to help FAA determine whether unsafe trends are developing.
Oakland, Calif.-based National Airmotive Corp. launched its program to offer full-service overhaul and support of Pratt&Whitney Canada PT6A turboprops, a little less than a year after deciding to get into the PT6 support business. The company plans to offer overhauls, repairs, hot-section inspections, rentals and exchanges of PT6As at its Oakland Airport facilities, as a complement to NAC's existing capabilities for the complete line of Allison gas turbines.
Pelita Air Services of Indonesia has taken delivery of its first Fokker 70. Pelita, a non-scheduled carrier that operates on behalf of the state oil company Pertamina, had five of the aircraft on order. Two additional aircraft will be delivered next year and two in 1997. The F70s replace the carrier's current fleet of F28s. The carrier took delivery of a Fokker 100 in 1990. Pelita and Indonesian operator Sempati Air were the launch customers for the Fokker 70 during the 1993 Paris Air Show when they placed orders for 15 aircraft.
Kiwi International Airlines, which has had a number of executive suite shakeups in its short history, named yesterday to its management team two former Pan Am executives with ties to new Kiwi President Jerry Murphy. Thor Johnson, a 30-year industry veteran, was named VP-customer services. He joins Kiwi from BWIA International Airways, where he was VP-sales and service for North America and Europe. Before that, Johnson was an executive VP at DynAir Technologies International, following a 25-year career at Pan Am.
