Southwest has slashed 21-day advance purchase fares to $19 in some markets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The fares include Los Angeles- Oakland, normally $69 for the walk-up fare, and Chicago-Cleveland, normally $77. "These fares are so low, you just gotta go," said Dave Ridley, VP- marketing and sales. Tickets must be purchased by Nov. 7 for travel Nov. 10-April 5. The fares are not available from Orange County, Calif.
Adopted an AD on Lockheed L-1011-385 series aircraft requiring an inspection to detect evidence of sealant around the lug bushing flanges of certain actuator attach pin assemblies of the main landing gear, and replacement of the pin assembly if no sealant is present.
FAA and the Secret Service are investigating an incident Friday morning in which an aircraft carrying the governor of Ohio took off from Ohio State University Airport without air traffic clearance minutes after the Secret Service had closed the airport. According to information released by FAA Friday afternoon, a temporary flight restriction, effective 9:30 a.m., was put in place at Ohio State University, where President Clinton was speaking. Air traffic control still was permitting traffic to arrive and depart OSU Airport, but at 10 a.m.
ValuJet has yet to reveal its third and fourth focus cities, but Chairman Robert Priddy hinted Friday at a number of possibilities.He said the airline has done very well in the Orlando/Tampa area, the introduction of Boston service has been phenomenal, the geography of Raleigh/Durham is attractive, and Columbus, Ohio, has been very strong.
Granted orally an exemption to Aero California to engage in scheduled combination service between the co-terminal points Loreto and San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, and the terminal point Los Angeles; Culiacan, Mexico, and Los Angeles; Hermosillo, Mexico, and Los Angeles; La Paz, Mexico, and Los Angeles; Manzanillo, Mexico, and Los Angeles, and San Jose del Cabo and Phoenix.
After extensive testing in the South Pacific, FAA has begun operational trials of the Future Air Navigation System (FANS-1) oceanic data link at its Oakland, Calif., air route traffic control center. The oceanic data link uses for the first time two-way satellite communications to provide direct pilot-to-controller communications over oceans and other remote areas that are normally out of range of ground-based radar. Under the current system, controllers rely on position reports radioed periodically from pilots and relayed by ground-based systems.
Granted orally an exemption to LanChile to wet-lease equipment to Aerotransportes Mas de Carga for operation of Mas de Carga's scheduled, all-cargo services between the co-terminal points Mexico City and Cancun, Mexico, and the terminal point Miami and between Mexico City and Los Angeles.
Adopted an AD on British Aerospace BAe-146 and Avro 146-RJ series aircraft requiring inspections to detect damaged and missing surface protective finish, corrosion and cracking on the servo tab brackets and the trim tab drive brackets of the aileron.
Issued special conditions for the Gulfstream Model V aircraft, establishing safety standards for protection of the fuselage structure, passengers and crew during operations at altitudes higher than those provided for in current regulations.
Air Canada has decided to extend benefits, excluding pensions, to Canadian- based employees with same-sex spouses, effective Jan. 1. The decision was made in response to a complaint filed with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Proposed to supersede an AD on all CFM International CFM56-3C-1 and certain CFM56-3B-2 engines, adding to requirements for the removal from service of certain fan disk and fan blade equipment and the imposition of thrust level limits in the use of the CFM56-3C-1 engines.
Fairchild Aircraft, together with China's Hainan Airlines, will establish a Fairchild spare parts facility within China, the two companies announced last week. Under a memorandum of understanding, Fairchild and Hainan will create a warehouse in Haikou enabling rapid response for the aircraft in China. Separately, Fairchild said Hainan has ordered additional Metro 23 aircraft, with two deliveries scheduled in December. Hainan took delivery of its first Metro 23 in September 1994.
Proposed an AD on certain Jetstream ATP aircraft requiring inspections to detect fatigue cracking and corrosion, with replacement as necessary, of gussets of the rear passenger door and rear baggage door apertures.
The U.S. broke off aviation talks with the U.K. Friday, saying the final British offer was not acceptable. No arrangements were made for additional meetings. "I am extremely disappointed that the United Kingdom could not demonstrate support for an open market for aviation, or share in our vision of a far more unrestricted aviation relationship," said DOT Secretary Federico Pena in a terse statement. British officials countered that they were "puzzled and disappointed" with the U.S.
Granted orally an exemption to Air Pacific Ltd. to operate scheduled combination service between Nadi, Fiji, and Los Angeles, via the optional inter- mediate point Honolulu.
McDonnell Douglas has guaranteed ValuJet up to 15 aircraft per year if the airline cannot find sufficient lift to meet its growth plans while awaiting the mid-1999 delivery of the first MD-95s it ordered last week, ValuJet Chairman Robert Priddy said Friday. "We're guaranteed aircraft and pricing" on up to 15 planes per year, even if it means Douglas building new MD-80s for ValuJet, Priddy said. He quickly added that no one expects that outcome, because McDonnell Douglas has a large portfolio of airplanes that will come off lease in the near future.
U.S. Trade Representative's Office has formed an interagency working group to look into claims by Boeing workers that aircraft parts manufacturing in China is reducing U.S. jobs significantly and exporting technology. One of the big beefs of striking Machinists at Boeing is shipping jobs overseas. A company spokesman said Boeing is happy to share data with USTR to "clear the air" on the issue.
House and Senate negotiators on the fiscal 1996 DOT appropriations bill (H.R.2002) completed action on aviation-related provisions Wednesday night, adopting legislation to require new FAA personnel and procurement systems and providing $8.216 billion for the agency (DAILY, Oct. 19). Conferees completed almost all action on the bill yesterday morning but recessed after reaching an impasse on highway demonstration projects.
