French civil aviation authority - the Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile - Friday lifted its limited restrictions on use of the autopilot while operating ATR-42 and ATR-72 aircraft in certain icing conditions. The DGAC action sets the stage for a decision by FAA, expected this week, whether to lift or modify its ban on flying ATRs in forecast or known icing conditions. The French authority replaced its restrictions with an airworthiness directive to revise the flight manual to include changes in operating procedures in icing conditions.
British Airways has launched "World Offers," a fare sale on travel from its 18 U.S. gateways to dozens of cities in the U.K., continental Europe and beyond. Subject to governmental approval, BA is offering fare discounts of up to 64%. "It's not only London for sale, but a vast number of cities and countries around the globe linked, via London, through the British Airways network," said Dale Moss, executive VP-sales and marketing, USA. The U.S.- London roundtrip fare is $298, down 12% from the normal excursion fare.
British Airways' systemwide passenger traffic rose 6.7% last month on 2.7% more capacity, pushing its load factor up 2.6 percentage points to 67.9%. The number of passengers boarded increased 6.3% to 2.22 million. U.K./Europe traffic rose 10% on 0.6% more capacity, boosting the load factor 5.3 percentage points to 61.9%. Intercontinental traffic increased 6% on 3.3% more capacity, improving the load factor 1.8 points to 69.4%.
FAA, in an emergency airworthiness directive issued last week, has ordered pilots flying Pratt&Whitney-powered Boeing 757 narrowbody twins to perform regular engine run-ups at more than 50% power during ground operations in cold weather. The AD followed reports of damage from ice chunks in PW2000 engines' high-pressure compressors. The agency also advised pilots or ground crews to look for ice buildup on the stator and remove it, if necessary, before taxiing out.
Fantasy Of Flight aviation theme park named Debra Johnson director- marketing. International Lease Finance Corp. named Alan Lund executive VP and chief operating officer responsible for finance, accounting and human resources, as well as legal and administrative functions; and appointed John Plueger executive VP and chief operating officer responsible for marketing, airline and manufacturer relationships, and technical and purchasing aspects. Sundstrand elected Berger Wallin to the board and to the position of executive VP-special projects.
Airlines hired 6,694 pilots in 1994, up from 3,719 in 1993, and 2,279 remained on furlough at the end of the year, according to the Future Aviation Professionals of America. Regionals operating turboprop aircraft hired the most cockpit crewmembers for the year, 1,780.
- In Federal Register dated Dec. 30...Proposed an airworthiness directive on certain Beech aircraft to require a circuit breaker on the landing gear motor control panel. - In FR dated Jan. 3...Issued an AD on certain Dassault Falcon 50 aircraft requiring, if necessary, rerouting and clamping of electrical wire bundles...Proposed an AD on certain Boeing 747 aircraft with General Electric and Pratt&Whitney engines to require modification of the nacelle strut and wing structure.
Alaska Airlines flew 38% more revenue passenger miles in 1994 than in 1993 on 28% more capacity, lifting its average load factor 4.3 percentage points. Passengers boardings increased 39.1%. In December, traffic rose 29% from the same 1993 period on 28% more available seat miles, boosting the load factor 0.6 points. Dec 94 Dec 93 12 Mths 94 12 Mths 93 RPMs 697,000,000 541,000,000 7,587,000,000 5,514,000,000 ASMS 1,108,000,000 869,000,000 12,082,000,000 9,426,000,000
Rolls-Royce and Gulfstream Aerospace have signed a $150 million contract for additional Tay engines for the GIVSP business jet program through the end of 1997. The aircraft is scheduled to begin flight tests later this year and enter service in 1996. The GV was the launch aircraft for Rolls's BR710 engine currently under development.
Northwest shareholder Bankers Trust and the airline company have reached an agreement under which Bankers Trust will swap 1,727 shares of Northwest Series B preferred stock for 2.05 million shares of newly issued Northwest Class B common stock. The transaction, which is subject to a number of closing conditions, would increase Bankers Trust's ownership stake to 8% from 6%.
Norwegian Cruise Line has become the second company to offer cruise products to travel agents through Apollo's LeisureShopper tour and cruise booking program.
Aloha appointed Joseph Hale senior VP-marketing. He was Delta's marketing director-Japan and previously worked 33 years for Pan Am. America West selected C.A. Howlett VP-public affairs. Lufthansa Cargo appointed Michael Vorwerk VP-cargo, USA.
America West said Friday it is putting its $18 million advertising account into review. The account is held by New York-based Rosenfeld, Sirowitz, Humphrey and Strauss (RSHS), which has been its agency since the airline was founded 11 years ago. The carrier has begun a comprehensive selection process from a "long list" of 10 potential agencies. It has invited RSHS to join in the review. "We need to ensure that America West is getting the best advertising and marketing support that money can buy," said Maurice Myers, president of the airline.
Crime bill (S.3) introduced last week by Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) includes criminal penalties for individuals violating FAA's Part 107 or 108 security regulations and a requirement that airline security screeners report to law enforcement authorities when they discover controlled substances or cash in excess of $10,000. Willful violations of the security regulations would bring a fine, imprisonment of up to one year, or both.
ARINC hopes to win FAA approval early this year for a Global Positioning System augmentation system it developed with E-Systems. American wants to use the equipment for Cat 1 operations, also early this year.
The Emirates Group will open a new training center in Dubai, part of a complex comprising the Dubai Aviation Club and the Dubai Aviation College, by the end of 1995, the company said. The training center, which will be designed to resemble an aircraft painted in the Emirates colors, will handle training for four Emirates divisions: flight operations, cabin crew, engineering and commercial. The "tail" section of the building will house flight simulators and an emergency evacuation simulator that Emirates helped CAE Electronics design.
Delta's systemwide traffic rose 3.4% last month on 0.2% less capacity, lifting the airline's load factor 2.2 percentage points (DAILY, Jan. 6). The number of passengers boarded increased 4.6% from December a year ago. International traffic was up 3.5% on 5.1% less capacity, while domestic traffic rose 3.4% on 1.3% more available seat miles. "December record boardings made 1994 the best year in terms of load factor and passengers," said Robert Coggin, senior VP-marketing. Delta boarded 89.05 million passengers during the year.
U.S. Trade and Development Agency is expected to issue a study today calling for a regional aviation board to oversee air traffic management in the Middle East. With representatives from Egypt, Jordan and Israel, the board would be patterned after air traffic management initiatives in Europe and operate under International Civil Aviation Organization standards.
The privatization of Trinidad&Tobago's BWIA International Airways through the acquisition of a 51% stake by investors led by the Acker Group has been put on hold, according to local press reports. The privatization was to have been completed by the end of 1994 (DAILY, Nov. 23). According to a report in the Barbados Advocate, opponents of the transaction allege that the government gave the U.S.-based Acker Group, led by former Pan Am Chairman Edward Acker, preferential treatment over local investors.
USAir will reduce its Newark operation to 18 flights a day March 5, eliminating service to Boston, Buffalo, Richmond, Raleigh/Durham and Indianapolis, in the second phase of its Newark downsizing. In a first step, the airline will cut back its current 51 daily flights to 35 on Feb. 15. All told, the adjustments will put 121 full- and part-time customer service agents and an undetermined number of maintenance personnel out of work.
Northwest Co-Chairman Gary Wilson's suspension from the board of directors, self-imposed after he was charged last August with possession of marijuana as he tried to board an aircraft, ended last Friday. Wilson has resumed his responsibilities for strategic direction of the company, particularly regarding finances. Company policy requires suspension of an employee in circumstances similar to Wilson's, followed by a legal process involving a company review and evaluation, but Northwest's bylaws have no provisions for suspending a member of the board.
United Express affiliate Atlantic Coast Airlines said its load factor increased 2.6 percentage points to 40% in December, from 37.4% in December 1993. While revenue passenger miles declined 18.4% to nearly 26 million from 31.9 million, capacity fell faster - 23.8% to just below 65 million available seat miles from 85.3 million ASMs.
Commercial aircraft manufacturers suffered their worst year for new orders in more than a decade in 1994, down by nearly 100 aircraft from 1993. "While full-year data are not yet available from all manufacturers, it appears that 260 to 270 new orders were announced in 1994," Boeing's Klaus Brauer told The DAILY. The 1993 total was 364, "previously the worst year in a decade," he said.
Alaska Air Group unit Horizon Air reported traffic increased 34% to 71 million revenue passenger miles in December compared with 53 million in the prior December. Capacity, meanwhile, was up 29% to 111 million available seat miles from 86 million in December 1993, allowing load factor to rise 2.4 percentage points to 64% from 61.6% in December 1993. Passenger enplanements were up 28% to 327,500 from 255,300 in December 1993.
