FAA is changing its regulations governing U.S. rotorcraft airworthiness standards to harmonize them with those of the European Joint Aviation Authorities. The new rule follows the findings of a working group of industry and government officials from the U.S. and Europe and recommendations of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee. It becomes final Aug. 8.
Delta is offering a $199 introductory fare for Montreal-Cincinnati service, which starts June 1. The fares are valid through July 15 and require a Saturday night stay.
In Federal Register dated May 3...Superseded an airworthiness directive on de Havilland Dash 3 aircraft concerning tailplane inspections...Issued an AD on Piaggio P180 aircraft requiring a shield on the front section of the engine cradle...Issued an AD on Robinson R22 helicopters requiring replacement of the upper V-belt sheave...Issued a correction on an AD on Jetstream HP137, Series 200 and 3101 and 3201 aircraft concerning aileron mounting spigot nut assemblies...Issued an AD on certain Piper series aircraft requiring modification of the flap lever assembly...Issue
Jobs of eight million Americans are tied directly to exports, Vice President Gore said last week at the annual conference of the Export-Import Bank. "Often your foreign competitors are supported, either directly or indirectly, by their governments," he told attendees in a defense of the bank against charges of corporate welfare and interference in the marketplace. Fred Bergsten, who heads the Institute for International Economics, said exporting firms expand jobs 20% faster than non-exporting firms. U.S.
Independent Russian carrier Transaero Airlines plans to launch scheduled service to the U.S. with flights to Los Angeles this summer and Orlando in the fall. The carrier will operate a DC-10-30 once a week to Los Angeles from Moscow, starting June 16. Service to Orlando is to begin in October. The airline hopes to establish Chicago-Moscow service in April 1997.
Transportation Department is preparing to drop the rule that requires airlines to perform pre-employment testing for alcohol use. The rule has not been enforced since April 5, 1995, when an appeals court vacated a similar Federal Highway Administration regulation and remanded it to the agency for further rulemaking. DOT is proposing to make testing voluntary for employers.
Western Pacific Airlines launched no-frills, low-cost service last week between Colorado Springs, Colo., and Portland, Ore. Fares for the daily nonstop start at $69 one way. The carrier has added a second daily flight from Colorado Springs to Newark.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Larry Pressler (R-S.D.) and a number of committee members introduced legislation (S.1735) last week to establish the U.S. Tourism Organization as a nongovernmental entity to promote tourism in the U.S. The legislation would fund the organization through development and sale of a tourism logo or emblem, much as is done by the U.S. Olympic Committee. U.S. businesses could become members by paying an annual fee.
International Lease Finance Corp. reported pretax income of $338.3 million for 1995, 8.4% more than the year before. Revenue was up 28.1% to $1.4 billion from $1.1 billion, and rental income increased 26.2% to $1.3 billion from $993.6 million. Assets rose 18.8% during the year, to $12.3 billion, and shareholders' equity was up 21.9% to $2 billion. Alan Lund, executive VP, reported "continued improvement in the overall marketplace as airlines have returned to profitability.
Kenneth Reed has been named president of McDonnell Douglas-Canada in Malton, Ontario. The plant manufactures wings and other components for Douglas commercial aircraft. Reed was VP-missile production in Titusville, Fla.
A jet aircraft out of service for maintenance in April drove Midwest Express's capacity and traffic down from record levels a year earlier. The carrier flew 100.6 million revenue passenger miles, a 4.2% decrease from April 1995, and capacity was down 1.5% to 154.5 million available seat miles. The load factor slipped 1.8 percentage points to 65.1%. The number of passengers flown fell 2.9% to 121,000.
Citing mandated reductions in funding and service for essential air service, two American Eagle carriers announced this week plans to terminate services and a third got the go-ahead to suspend some of its operations. Wings West gave 90-day notice of its intent to drop service at Oxnard, Calif., Sept. 4. Offering daily nonstop roundtrips between Oxnard and Los Angeles using 19-seat Jetstream aircraft, the carrier noted that United Express operator Mesa Airlines operates eight daily nonstop roundtrips on the route using 19-seat Beechcraft aircraft. It said a Feb.
Fiscal 1997-2002 budget resolutions urge efforts toward FAA financing reform to accommodate assumed reductions in transportation spending. The House resolution, now before the Budget Committee, calls for an air traffic control privatization study. The Senate resolution, approved last week by the Budget Committee, assumes continued efforts toward alternative financing of transportation infrastructure and cites the FAA reauthorization bill as a vehicle to explore innovative financing.
Weber Aircraft will provide first-class seats to Thai Airways for five new 747-400s and nine retrofit 747-400s. Thai is the first airline to select "both the 8080 Electric 'Flat Bed' feature and our new Privacy Divider," Weber said.
Orlando Jet carrier AirTran Airways flew 101.4 million revenue passenger miles in April, 275% more than in April 1995, and capacity rose 216% to 132.7 million available seat miles. The load factor for the month was 76.5%, a gain of 12.1 percentage points. The airline handled 115,500 passengers for the month. The low-cost carrier, which operates 10 737s, recently said it will begin flying between Orlando and Greensboro on June 19.
Cathay Pacific Airways took delivery of its first Boeing 777 Friday and plans to begin service with the aircraft on May 17. Cathy's 777s are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines.
DOT issued a show cause order last week tentatively approving antitrust immunity for the Lufthansa/United alliance. Pending final approval, the two would join the ranks of Northwest/KLM, the only carrier group with similar protection, obtained in 1992. Also in line for immunity are alliances of Delta/Swissair/Sabena/Austrian Airlines and American/Canadian International. The department promised to act on their bids shortly.
Although the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are sometimes at odds over aviation safety issues, NTSB Vice Chairman Bob Francis and FAA Administrator David Hinson are in complete agreement on the Global Analysis and Information Network's potential for enhancing safety. "This is as important as anything any of us are working on," Francis said last week as FAA unveiled GAIN.
Harold Williams, a retired Air Force major general, has been named president of Fairchild Aircraft, which is negotiating acquiring control of aircraft manufacturer Dornier from Daimler-Benz Aerospace of Germany.
