Northrop Grumman delivered its 1,000th CF6-80C2 translating cowl engine set, which creates reverse thrust on a number of widebody aircraft, including the Airbus A300 and A310, the Boeing 747 and 767 and the Douglas MD-11.
MarkAir's pilots will take a 20% pay cut for 90 days while their union, the Air Line Pilots Association, negotiates a longer-term deal with potential purchaser Terry Hallcom. The pay reduction, to take effect Sept. 1 subject to a ratification vote of the membership, was offered last week during bankruptcy court hearings and approved by the court. Hallcom, chief operating officer for USAir Shuttle, would buy MarkAir through his company, B&T Holdings (DAILY, Sept. 7).
Singapore Airlines plans to take over regional subsidiary SilkAir's service to Hangzhou in eastern China. SIA will begin operating a weekly Airbus A310-300 flight on Nov. 1. SilkAir, which has served Hangzhou since April 1994, will operate its last flight in the market on Oct. 25. SIA is making the change because SilkAir is streamlining its fleet and plans to stop flying the A310. Instead, SilkAir's fleet will comprise only Boeing 737s and Fokker 70s, which do not have the range to fly nonstop to Hangzhou from Singapore.
ValuJet will expand service from Atlanta and Washington Dulles next month. On Oct. 1, it will add one daily nonstop frequency to Fort Myers, Fla., from Atlanta and on Oct. 25, it will add one nonstop each to Boston, Columbus, Dallas/Fort Worth, Hartford, Louisville, Newport News, New Orleans and West Palm Beach. The additions will give the carrier 105 peak daily departures from the Georgia airport. From Washington, ValuJet will introduce new service to Columbus with two daily flights, beginning Oct. 1. Fares start at $49 one way.
- In Federal Register dated Sept. 1...Proposed an airworthiness directive on CFM International CFM56 series engines requiring part number reidentification of certain low-pressure turbine rotor stub shafts and conical supports. - In FR dated Sept. 6...Issued an AD on General Electric CF6-50 engines requiring inspection of high-pressure compressor rotor Stage 3-9 spools.
Senate Commerce aviation subcommittee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) tomorrow is scheduled to introduce an FAA reform bill supported by both the Clinton administration and key Democrats on the committee. DOT Secretary Federico Pena and FAA Administrator David Hinson are expected to participate in a news conference tomorrow announcing the legislation. The legislation will closely resemble earlier drafts (DAILY, Aug. 23), and it calls for two stages of fees that would flow directly to FAA outside the usual budget restrictions.
United's systemwide passenger traffic rose 0.9% in August on 3.2% more capacity, causing its load factor to decline 1.8 percentage points to 76.3%. The number of passengers carried rose 3.6%. Atlantic traffic fell 6.3% as Atlantic capacity declined 8.4%, but traffic was up in other markets. "We are pleased we improved upon last August's strong traffic performance, even though fare levels are generally higher," said John Edwardson, president. August 1995 August 1994 8 Months 1995 8 Months 1994
Trondent Development Corp. has joined the Apollo computer reservations system's Apollo Partners Program. Trondent's services include technology and MIS consulting, Focalpoint SE installation and custom application development, as well as various software packages, designed to reduce agency transaction costs. Trondent markets two products that have been approved for the Apollo Partners Program and is developing three others for which acceptance is pending.
To spur progress in the U.S.-U.K. talks, beginning today in London, the U.S. is beefing up its negotiating team by adding Mark Gerchik, acting assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs.Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Transportation James Tarrant still will chair the talks, but the U.S. believes that participation by a political- level person will stress the importance of the negotiations, Gerchick told The DAILY, adding that U.S.-U.K. ministerial contact is likely this week.
DOT has assessed a $65,000 civil penalty settlement against Philippine Airlines for violating laws prohibiting cabotage. The airline carried employees of other carriers on supposedly free flights between Honolulu and San Francisco but charged them up to $150 one way, which it said covered the cost of meals and beverages it provided.
Section 1 is the short title Section 2 states that the amendments are to Title 49 Section 3 adds a new Chapter 13 to Title 49 creating the new FAA. Section 1301 defines terms. Section 1311 establishes the FAA as an independent agency. Section 1312 describes the new Federal Aviation Board. Subsection (a) establishes the Board. Subsection (b) describes the functions of the Board. Paragraph (1) lists the functions of the Board as follows:
American's systemwide traffic rose 3.2% in August from the same month last year on 1.5% more capacity, producing a load factor increase of 1.2 percentage points to 71%. The airline's international traffic, fueled by strong growth in Latin American markets, jumped 10.9%, while its domestic traffic declined 0.1%. Domestic capacity fell 1.7% and international capacity grew 9.5%.
AAR Corp. appointed Ran Ronen senior consultant. AAR Oklahoma named Russell Beahm director-quality assurance. Airport Group International appointed Adrian Bellamy chairman. Cooper Aviation Industries named Dave Davis sales representative-Midwest and Mike Fisher a member of the inside sales support staff, both for the Cooper Express sales organization. Dowty appointed Rick Berg president of Dowty Aerospace, Los Angeles. Stan Garst&Associates named Paul Wade VP-training and business development.
Last week's U.S.-India negotiations "ended on a sour note," according to industry officials. One veteran industry representative said the talks featured "one of the nastiest exchanges across the table," the official had ever witnessed. Indian officials were seeking new route rights, capacity restraints and the right to carry passengers between London and Chicago. The U.S. also wanted new service, while trying to secure proposed Northwest and United service. There will be more talks, but no date has been set, a DOT spokesman said.
USAir last month flew 5.4% fewer revenue passenger miles than in August a year ago on 8.5% less capacity, boosting the load factor 2.2 percentage points to 69.2% - the airline's fifth straight monthly rise. The length of the average passenger journey increased 5.7% to 692.8 miles. The increases in load factor and the length of the average passenger journey reflect USAir's measures to cut excess capacity and realign its route system, the carrier said. August 1995 August 1994 Months 1995 8 Months 1994
Sabre told travel agents meeting in Dallas last week that it will make electronic ticketing available in December. The first carriers to use the Sabre Electronic Ticketing product will be United and Shuttle by United.
MasterCard International is opening a new global acceptance category - inflight commerce (IFC) - on commercial airlines, which will enable cardholders to perform, and merchants to accept, credit card transactions at in-seat video monitors. MasterCard said its research shows that by the year 2000 an estimated 600 long-haul, widebody aircraft will be equipped with in-seat video monitors, enabling travelers to use credit cards for entertainment and purchasing, and IFC sales could total more than $1 billion annually by 2000.
American last week opened a new 3,500-square-foot Admirals Club at London Gatwick. The new facility includes the airline's first European conference center, and features four work areas with desks, a photocopier, fax machine, computer modem points and credit card telephones. The new club is one-third larger than American's former facility.
Delta has created a SkyRewards program that enables companies to purchase SkyMiles as employee rewards or for customer incentive promotions. Mileage vouchers can be purchased in books of 500, 1,000 or 5,000 miles. The 500- and 1,000-mile book costs $600 and the 5,000-mile booklet $1,500. A minimum purchase of $1,200 is required, and a $75 administrative fee applies.
Continental transported 35 Bosnian teenagers to Newark last week under a cooperative effort with the Bosnia and Herzegovina Education Fund. The youths, many of whom were separated from their families when fighting broke out in Bosnia, will be placed with U.S. host families and resume their education.
Southwest, in an effort to show it is "The California airline," has lowered its seven-day advance-purchase fare for intra-California travel to $39. The fares are good from the Los Angeles basin - Los Angeles, Burbank and Ontario - or San Diego to Sacramento or the Bay Area cities of Oakland and San Jose. They also apply to San Diego-San Francisco. Southwest also has cut the price of travel from Portland or Seattle to California. Portland-Oakland, for example, is now $59, down from $89, and San Diego- Seattle has dropped to $89 from $164.
Arrow Air appointed Gerald Hulsizer Northeast district manager. Emery Worldwide appointed Richard Friedl director-sales and business development for Asia/Pacific and Robert Hilburn director-sales and business development for Europe and Latin America.
USAir unions must be watching the situation with anxiety. Labor was unable to reach concession deals with Schofield, considered a workers' chairman, and now faces the prospect of a less labor-friendly chairman. With Schofield's resignation, "the unions lost their last best chance for a relatively amicable negotiating process," according to NatWest analyst Vivian Lee. Tipping the balance further is shareholder British Airways' previously stated opposition to union representation on USAir's board.
