FAA has issued "Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance," a guide book designed to reduce human error and improve the performance levels of airline maintenance technicians, managers and safety inspectors. Introducing the manual in both hard-copy and CD-ROM versions, FAA expects the volume to be used as an operational tool not only to enhance safety, but also to reduce the overall costs of maintenance.
Airport and Airway Trust Fund Income Statement October 1, 1994 - June 30, 1995 Current Month RECEIPTS (Revenues) Revenues: Excise Taxes (Transferred from General Fund): Liquid Fuel other than Gas $ 15,781,000.00 Transportation by Air, Seats, Berths, etc. 512,210,000.00
SF Wings, owner of Sportsflight Airways, has appointed former Kiwi International Air Lines President Danny Wright interim president of the Tucson-based charter carrier. Wright replaces Robert Fleming, who has been president and chief executive of Sportsflight since its inception in October 1993. The company received its FAR Part 121 certificate in April 1994. Fleming is leaving the company to pursue other business opportunities in aviation, Sportsflight said.
Air Transport Association and 59 airlines filed a rates and charges complaint Friday at DOT arguing that landing fees that took effect July 1 at Los Angeles Airport are unreasonable. Carriers also asked DOT to intervene and order airport officials to provide more consultation on landing fees. DOT issued a scheduling notice on the new complaint yesterday, providing procedural deadlines leading up to a Sept. 25 decision on the significance of the dispute.
U.S. Customs Service will begin a trial run this year at Miami Airport of a streamlined inspection process designed to speed passengers through customs and improve enforcement. A Customs spokesman said passengers who fit the profile of residents returning from a country where the risk of drug trafficking or terrorism is considered low will be allowed to declare orally what items they are bringing back into the country, instead of providing a written document. Customs already allows the oral declaration for land border crossing.
At the prompting of FAA and Hamilton Standard, regional aircraft operators inspected during the weekend between 350 and 380 propeller blades like the one that broke off the Atlantic Southeast Airlines' Embraer EMB-120 that crashed last Monday in Georgia. The actions were taken after the National Transportation Safety Board FAA Friday urged to require immediate ultrasonic inspection of Hamilton Standard blades (DAILY, Aug. 28).
National Transportation Safety Board recommended Friday that FAA issue airworthiness directives requiring inspection of General Electric CF6 high- pressure compressor (HPC) spools for cracks induced by hard alpha inclusions, and broadened HPC inspections for cracks caused by dwell time fatigue. FAA Deputy Administrator Linda Daschle said the agency will act on the recommendations "as soon as we have determined the correct inspection interval for the program."
In a shakeup of top management, Air France Managing Director Rodolphe Frantz, one of the few remaining longtime employees in upper management, resigned Monday, and Jean-Pierre Courcol was made head of domestic subsidiary Air Inter. Courcol replaces Michel Bernard, who resigned in May as chairman of Air Inter and head of the Air France European profit center. Following Bernard's resignation, Air France Chairman Christian Blanc was appointed to fill the post temporarily.
United has expanded electronic ticketing nationwide, to all 2,000 of its daily domestic flights. The E-Ticket option is available, effective yesterday, on sales for travel beginning Sept. 18. United said its surveys show that 95% of its customers believe ticketless is the most convenient way to travel, and 88% said E-Ticket would be their preferred ticketing option.
Aeromexico plans to launch nonstop San Diego-Cabo San Lucas flights Oct. 29, with direct service to Mexico City, subject to government approval. The airline described its expansion into Cabo San Lucas, located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, as "just another step in Aeromexico's continuing effort to address the international traveler's never-ending quest for outstanding destinations."
U.S. National Carriers Traffic July, 7 Months 1995 July July % 1995 1994 Change Alaska Revenue Passenger Miles (000) 881,000 788,000 11.8 Available Seat Miles (000) 1,346,000 1,167,000 15.3 Load Factor (%) 65.5 67.5
TWA is offering an introductory fare on its new nonstops, beginning in October, from St. Louis to Reno/Tahoe and Jackson, Miss. The fares to Reno, good for service from beyond St. Louis, are $99 and $149 each way, depending on the origin. Fares to Jackson range from $89 to $129 each way. Both are based on a roundtrip purchase. Tickets must be bought by Sept. 1, and all travel must be completed by Feb. 15, 1996.
American has appointed Tommy McFall, director of the National Transportation Safety Board's regional office in Arlington, as managing director-safety and environment, effective Oct. 1. McFall will replace John Feil, who is taking advantage of American's early-out retirement program. McFall worked for Feil in 1986 as manager of flight safety.
Association of Professional Flight Attendants says its contract negotiations with American are in the home stretch, and it expects an arbitration decision in four to six weeks.Decisions will be made on 14 outstanding issues, including a retroactive signing bonus, the five-hour day, preferential bidding, contract duration, vacation accrual and retiree health benefits.APFA also will be "out in force" to promote its bid to represent flight attendants at the four American Eagle carriers, which currently are represented by three unions.
Aerolineas Argentinas drops to fourth on the list of Latin America's largest airlines with LanChile's acquisition of a 57% interest in Ladeco.The LanChile/Ladeco combination is now the third largest entity in the region, behind the Aeromexico/Mexicana combination, which may be broken up during the next few years, and Brazil's Varig.
USAir is cutting fares in more than 7,500 markets in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean by up to 58%. As with other carriers offering fall fare specials, tickets must be purchased by Sept. 1 and travel completed by Dec. 15. USAir said tickets can be purchased in some markets until Sept. 15.
Air Canada plans to begin nonstop service between Toronto and Las Vegas Oct. 29 with five flights a week. The airline will operate the service with Boeing 767s configured for two classes of service. To promote the new route, Air Canada will offer double Aeroplan miles until Dec. 15. The carrier said its flights will be the only scheduled, nonstop service from Canada to Las Vegas.
Canadian Holidays, the charter and package tour subsidiary of struggling Canadian Airlines International, has been approached by potential investors interested in purchasing the operation. Canadian Holidays stressed that a firm offer has not been made.
Northwest is offering fall fares it says are as much as 50% lower than its regular excursion fare, with benefits as well for its AirCares charity program partners. Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 1 for travel between Sept. 16 and Dec. 14. Sale fares include a $398 roundtrip between Los Angles and New York, 49% lower than current fares, and $358 between San Francisco and Orlando. Northwest will donate $1 for each ticket sold, up to $500,000, to five charitable organizations.
South African Airways is urging DOT to accept a South African government proposal increasing the number of frequencies available in the U.S.-South Africa market. In comments on the U.S.-South Africa Allocation Proceeding, SAA said the new direct service opportunities, offered by South Africa in the most recent round of U.S.-South Africa talks, would satisfy the needs of U.S. carriers seeking access to the market and resolve DOT's USAfrica uncertainties.
UPS plans to give its full-time, non-management employees the opportunity to make a personal investment in the company by purchasing stock, beginning Oct. 2. UPS currently limits employee stock ownership to managers and supervisors. UPS Chairman and Chief Executive Kent Nelson said, "Today, more than ever before, we are calling on our people at all levels to take direct responsibility for the customer's satisfaction." UPS allowed managers to buy stock beginning in 1945 and has more than 28,000 active manager-owners.
Delta, Swissair and Singapore Airlines, partners in the six-year-old Global Excellence Alliance, have formed what they say is the aviation industry's largest independent buying consortium. DSS World Sourcing AG, owned jointly by the three airlines and based in Zurich, will source a variety of items, including flight amenities, beverages, duty-free stationery, uniforms, and office and computer equipment.
Airport and Airway Trust Fund Balance Sheet As of June 30, 1995 Current Month ASSETS Undisbursed Balances: Available for Investment $ 1,184.87 TOTAL UNDISBURSED BALANCE (Cash in Account) Receivables: Interest Receivables $ 0.00 TOTAL RECEIVABLES
Air Jamaica has appointed Jose Lorenzo VP-sales in charge of North America. He will also be responsible for airport operations in all seven of Air Jamaica's gateway cities. Prior to joining Air Jamaica, he was president of American Sales&Management Organization, responsible for all Avensa/Servivensa operations in North America.
Royal Jordanian Airline has named Motassem Kilani director-air services at New York Kennedy. He succeeds Omar Ismail, who has transferred to Karachi, where he is now area director for Pakistan. He was director-traffic procedures and systems for Royal Jordanian in Amman, and he was the airline's representative to the International Air Transport Association.
