AMR Corp.'s chief financial officer this week said the icing crisis surrounding ATR aircraft cost the American Eagle parent $20 million after taxes. American Eagle and other ATR operators moved scores of the aircraft from their northern bases last winter after an icing problem was blamed for a fatal Simmons Airlines crash in Indiana and stringent cold-weather operating conditions were placed on the aircraft.
The National Transportation Safety Board considered the status of FAA runway incursion prevention programs as well as the specifics of the collision of a TWA DC-9 and a Cessna 441 last Nov. 22 at Lambert- St. Louis Airport, NTSB President Jim Hall said during the board's two-day hearing on the accident. The hearing, which ended yesterday, included testimony from Capt. Donald Carr, pilot of the DC-9, who described the sudden appearance of the Cessna on the runway as his aircraft was nearing 100 miles per hour on takeoff.
Taiwan's Aero Industry Development Center is studying the feasibility of producing a six- to nine-seat commuter aircraft, a Taiwanese newspaper reported. Taipei's United Daily News quoted sources within the military, which runs AIDC, as saying that the unit has completed the first stage of wind tunnel experiments that are required before the first prototype can be produced.
Swissair Group expects to grow in 1995 and post a larger profit than it did in a disappointing 1994, the airline company said yesterday in confirming previously released financial results for 1994 (DAILY, March 31). The group recorded a net profit of 23 million Swiss francs, less than half 1993's profit of 59 million francs, on operating revenue of 6.45 billion francs. The company described as "encouraging" the results of regional subsidiary Crossair and Swissair Associated Cos.
The 12-year-old Dash 8 program passed two major milestones this week, Dash 8 manufacturer Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division announced - the first Series 200 delivery and the 400th aircraft in the program to be delivered. The manufacturer said 444 of the model have either been delivered or accounted for in firm orders. The first Dash 8 was rolled out April 19, 1983. The company is producing three major versions of the Dash 8 - the 37- passenger 100, 39-passenger "hot-and-high" 200 and 50-passenger 300 series - with another under study.
Subsidized Essential Air Service As Of March 1, 1995, (Excluding Alaska) State/ Subsidized Service to Aircraft Communities Carrier (Hubs) Type Alabama Anniston Gulfstream Atlanta Beech C-99 Arizona Kingman Mesa Phoenix Beech 1900 Prescott Mesa Phoenix Beech 1900 Page SkyWest Phoenix Metro III
The relative strength of the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar cost Northwest more than $59 million in the first quarter, but the airline expects the strong yen to be a plus for the full year, Northwest officials said yesterday in reporting better-than-expected first quarter financial results. Northwest posted net earnings of $2.6 million and an operating profit of $135.1 million for the quarter ended March 31.
Passenger growth for European Regional Airlines Association (ERA) members was 15.2% during 1994. That compares to an average of 16.8% per year since 1987. Growth was especially strong in November and December at 21% and 20%, respectively. ERA did not provide absolute numbers. The association said 74% of the reporting carriers achieved growth of more than 5% during the year.
DOT Administrative Law Judge Ronnie Yoder has given the parties in the Puerto Rico Ports Authority Rates Proceeding until April 21 to formalize their settlement agreement and file a proposed order. He had ordered the agreement filed by April 19, but the parties asked for more time (DAILY, April 17).
The U.S. should try to move toward a liberalized, open skies regime with Europe by swapping access beyond its gateways for the end of state subsidies for European carriers, Belgian Senator Herman De Croo said yesterday. In a speech at the International Aviation Club in Washington, De Croo said the U.S. and Europe will have to agree on the definition of open skies and reciprocity before negotiators can make progress toward them. "It is all too obvious to us Europeans that at this moment in time, 'open skies' end at U.S. gateways," he said.
United has volunteered cargo holds of its aircraft to the American Red Cross to airlift emergency relief supplies to Oklahoma City to aid victims of Wednesday's terrorist attack on a federal building.
Continental Express lost more than $20 million in canceled flights alone during the ATR icing probe beginning in December. That does not take into account lost traffic because of passenger reluctance to fly on regional aircraft, a source close to the airline said. The carrier carried only 170,000 passengers during January, down from a normal 250,000 to 300,000, which translates to an average $70 per ticket plus $100 to the major partner for each connecting passenger.
Boeing Commercial Airplane Group's Wichita Modification Responsibility Center has developed a 747 cargo conversion process it says will reduce aircraft down time by 10 days. The process makes it possible to construct complete sections of the reinforced floor on factory floor assembly jigs before the aircraft arrives. The previous process required mechanics to replace one floor beam at a time. Now, floor beams will be replaced with six-grid floor frame assemblies.
As part of its plan to consolidate Flight Service Stations into Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSSs), FAA closed yesterday the first of three southern region flight service stations to be shut down by July. Slated for closure are facilities in Birmingham, Ala., on April 20; Dothan, Ala., on June 1, and McComb, Miss., on June 29. The closings will affect 15 air traffic control personnel, who will be offered permanent position at the AFSSs in the Southern Region.
The complaint filed by seven airlines against the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority is outside the scope of the 1994 rates and charges law because it challenges a line item in an airport budget that has only an indirect effect on fees, the airport authority told DOT. The complaint involves revenue-guarantee arrangements between the airport authority, which operates Lehigh Valley Airport in Allentown, Pa., and TWA and Midway (DAILY, April 5).
Continental predicts it will save $15 million-$20 million a year in accounting and paperwork costs after it goes nationwide with its new airport electronic ticketing system, developed by EDS and AT&T Global Information Solutions and unveiled yesterday. The carrier has begun using E-Ticket machines for shuttle flights between Houston and San Antonio, Dallas and New Orleans. The automated device is expected to eliminate the need to wait in line and check in with an agent.
Poland is looking to sell a minority stake in flag-carrier LOT Polish Airlines. Reuter yesterday quoted LOT President Jan Litwinksi as saying the government wants to sell 29% of the carrier to an investor by the end of next year, and that the airline would like to have American be that investor. American and LOT signed a marketing deal last year. American declined comment on the matter yesterday.
FAA commissioned the National Airspace Data Interchange Network (NADIN II) on March 31. The high-speed data communications system, designed to improve the controllers' ability to pass information to pilots, is expected to save the agency $8 million-$10 million in annual telecommunications costs, according to FAA. NADIN II facilitates rapid information-sharing among FAA's 20 air traffic control centers.
Average load factor for 12 regional airlines declined by 0.85 of a percentage point in March to 47.65% from 48.5% in the same month a year ago. Seven carriers in the sample lost percentage points; five gained ground. Horizon Air, the regional industry's traditional load-factor leader, continued to post a high for the sample of 12 at 59.1%. That was down nearly 3.6 points, however, from 62.7% a year ago. Showing most growth in load factor was Miami-based Gulfstream International, up 7.4 points from 48.5% in March 1994 to 55.9% in the month just ended.
Saab Aircraft has yet to meet the 76 dBA cabin specification it guaranteed launch customer Crossair on the 50-passenger Saab 2000 high- speed turboprop, missing the mark by only two dBA. That is not close enough for Crossair Chief Executive Moritz Suter. During a European press junket to show off the 2000 last week in Basel, Switzerland, Suter said he was not happy about the excessive noise. Meanwhile, Saab pays a penalty for each airplane delivered with average cabin noise above 76 dBA, a goal it says it will reach.
The Hong Kong government plans to restrict Qantas Airways' carriage of fifth-freedom traffic beyond Hong Kong to Bangkok and Singapore to 50% of the total number of passengers on each flight, it was revealed yesterday. The restrictions will take effect July 1 unless Australia and Hong Kong can resolve a dispute over fifth-freedom rights in the next two months. Hong Kong authorities have charged that as many as 85% of the passengers on Qantas flights from Hong Kong to destinations other than Australia originate in Hong Kong.
Aviation industry representatives raised serious questions yesterday about National Transportation Safety Board proposals for upgrading flight data recorders.
Aviation Week&Space Technology will conduct its first Paris Air Show business seminar this year. "Aviation/Aerospace Requisites for the 21st Century" will be held the mornings of June 12 and June 13 at Le Bourget. Speakers include Van Honeycutt, chairman and CEO, Computer Sciences Corp.; Kent Kresa, chairman and CEO, Northrop Grumman, and Gareth Chang, president, GM Hughes International. Registration is limited to 200. For information, call Lydia Janow at 1-800-240-7645.
USAir subsidiaries Allegheny and Piedmont will increase their Dash 8 fleets during 1995, largely through used-aircraft-lease transactions, the company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Together they operate 75 Dash 8-100s; Piedmont also has five aging Dash 7s.
National Mediation Board has accepted Delta's request for mediation in concession talks with its Air Line Pilots Association unit and will assign a federal mediator as soon as possible.Although pilots viewed the request as premature, Delta said it was necessary not only because the two were far apart on money, but also because the pilots have thrown an old item back into the talks - wage snapbacks.
