Northwest Airlines and Pacific Island Aviation will begin code sharing today among islands in the Northern Marianas that connect to Northwest flights to Japan. PIA, which operates regional turboprops, will provide five daily roundtrips between Guam, Saipan and Rota carrying Northwest's code. Passengers will be able to earn mileage in Northwest's WorldPerks plan, and Northwest will offer improved airport check-in for PIA customers.
U.S. National Carriers Productivity, In Revenues And Expenses Per Employee Third Quarter 1994, In Dollars Total Total Operating Operating Revenues Expenses Total Airline (000) (000) Employees Alaska 319,127 275,124 6,522 Aloha 60,082 60,695 1,945
The House National Security Committee yesterday approved the GOP Contract With America language directing the Defense Dept. to "develop for deployment" at the earliest possible date "a cost-effective, operationally effective anti-ballistic missile system." Also approved was identical language to "develop for deployment" at the earliest date "advanced theater missile defense systems."
For a one-time cost of $12 million, all 95 B-1Bs in the U.S. Air Force can achieve a 75% mission capable rate, according to AF Air Combat Command chief Gen. Michael Loh. The B-1B bomber historically has shown a low mission capable rate, averaging about 55%, "because it's never been adequately funded," Loh told reporters yesterday during a Pentagon briefing to highlight the findings of last year's operational readiness assessment (ORA). Congress ordered the AF to conduct the study, which was completed in late November.
Daimler-Benz Aerospace, which hurt the reputation of Germany's national air show last year with a last-minute decision not to participate, has helped "revive local and federal interest" in the show with its decision last week to take part next year, American Embassy personnel in Berlin told the Commerce Department.
AUSTRIAN AIRLINES yesterday ordered four Fokker 70 aircraft, and took options on four more, for low-density routes such as those between Vienna and Geneva, Turin and Tirana, Fokker reported. Two are scheduled for delivery this year, in September and October, and the others are due in March 1996.
No matter which engine industry picks to put on the Joint Advanced Strike Technology fighter, the JAST office will fund modest development of a second engine to ensure back-up capability for the production-version aircraft, JAST program director Gen. George Muellner said yesterday. "In the long-term, we're going to make sure both engines are there," Muellner told The DAILY after speaking at a JAST industry seminar in Alexandria, Va. The National Security Industrial Association sponsored the event.
Gordon Ow Aircraft Ltd. (GOAL), Long Beach, Calif., has received a $250,000 state grant to develop a high speed vertical takeoff and landing aircraft modeled on a "Frisbee" flying disk toy. The design, said to be capable of high subsonic speeds, is in the concept stage, with development depending on whether the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) awards a contract in coming months. Lloyd Ikerd, president of GOAL, told The DAILY that ARPA, NASA, and the U.S. Air Force and Navy have all voiced support for the still-unnamed program.
GE Aircraft Engine's Engine Services Dept. has been awarded a five-year, $60 million maintenance-cost-per-hour contract to maintain the JT9 engines that power a 747 operated by Paris Orly-based charter carrier Corse Air. The work will be performed at the GE Aircraft Engine Services Ltd. maintenance facility at Nantgarw, Wales.
American is contesting United for authority to operate combination services between Los Angeles and Guadalajara. American proposes to begin May 1 two daily nonstop flights using MD-80 aircraft. United earlier requested the designation, proposing two nonstop roundtrip flights between the two points using 737-300 aircraft, beginning June 7. The U.S.-Mexico bilateral pact permits the U.S. to designate two carriers for the route. Delta and Alaska are designated for the service, but the latter has announced plans to discontinue it.
ABOARD C-17 NO. 17 - Pilots at the 17th Airlift Squadron at Charleston AFB, S.C., have a few "minor design changes" they'd recommend for a potential follow-on version of the C-17 airlifter, but say they have no complaints when it comes to systems and flying quality. "It performs like a champ," said Capt. Andy Hockman, a former C-141 pilot. "I don't know of anyone who's disgruntled with the airplane....It's an awesome piece of machinery."
America West began selling discount fares yesterday on most of its late- evening flights for travel completed by April 30. The tickets are non- refundable and require a seven-day advance purchase. Fares are $89, $99 or $149 one way, based on roundtrip purchase between the West and cities throughout the country. Tickets must be bought by Feb. 6. The lowest fares are available from Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Tucson to Austin, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Omaha and St. Louis.
Southwest is marketing one-way $49 fares between Oakland and 12 nonstop points it serves from the California city in honor of the San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl win. Tickets must be purchased by Feb. 14 for travel through May 23. Portland and Spokane will be added to Southwest's Oakland schedule March 4.
American will begin a third daily Chicago-London Heathrow nonstop April 2 using a 767-200ER, the airline said yesterday. Senior VP-Planning Gerard Arpey said its hub strength in Chicago has increased demand on the route.
In a series of aircraft moves intended to shift its focus toward shorter- haul international and domestic flying, All Nippon Airways has placed firm orders for 10 A321s, canceled orders for four 747-400s, deferred delivery of five A340s and converted a total of six options for 777s and 767s into firm orders, the Japanese carrier said yesterday. ANA said it placed its original orders of the long-haul aircraft, particularly the A340s, because it thought a second runway would be built at Tokyo Narita.
Wyle Laboratories has been acquired in a management buyout by its management team and the William E. Simon&Sons investment firm, the El Segundo, Calif.-based scientific services company reported. F. Stephen Wyle will continue as chairman and CEO, and C.D. Yiakas will remain as president and COO, the company said. No terms for the buyout were released.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has placed firm orders for two A310-300s, becoming a new customer of Airbus Industrie. The aircraft, scheduled for delivery in the second and third quarters of 1996, will be powered by Pratt&Whitney PW4000 engines. The A310s will be configured to accommodate 27 passengers in business class and 194 in coach. They will be used on service between Dhaka and major destinations on its regional route network.
SkyWest's December quarter net earnings dropped more than 52% from the previous year to $1.4 million, or 13 cents per share, the airline company reported yesterday. The company's operating profit fell even more precipitously, dropping 69.3% to $1.6 million from $5.3 million a year earlier. A 10.6% increase in operating revenues was far from enough to offset a 20.8% increase in operating expenses. SkyWest Inc. is the parent company of Delta Connection carrier SkyWest Airlines.
Austrian Airlines yesterday ordered four Fokker 70 aircraft, and took options on four more, for low-density routes, such as those between Vienna and Geneva, Turin and Tirana, Fokker reported. Two aircraft are scheduled for delivery in September and October, and the others are due in March 1996. All four aircraft will be configured identically to those of Tyrolean Airways, which ordered three Fokker 70s and optioned three more in December. Austrian is a shareholder in Tyrolean, and the carriers will maintain the aircraft jointly.
Orbcomm, the orbital communications subsidiary of Orbital Sciences Corp., has signed up Italy's Nuova Telespazio to provide its satellite- based messaging and data communications service in 36 European nations, Orbital reported yesterday. Under the agreement Telespazio will head a consortium of European companies to be known as Orbcomm Europe that will market and provide services throughout Europe. The consortium will build and operate a European Network Control Center, four Earth stations for the satellite signals, and the European network.
British Aerospace Dynamics has received a $10.9 million contract from U.S. Naval Air Systems Command for foreign comparative testing of the Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM). "The purpose of the testing," the Pentagon said Monday, "is to gather data to determine if the missile meets AIM-9X operational requirements." The effort will be carried out in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England; Eglin AFB, Fla., and China Lake, Calif. (DAILY, Nov. 4, page 187.)
Financial might won out at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) yesterday when the first three licenses for multi-billion dollar "Big LEO" satellite systems were issued to ventures backed by Motorola Corp., Loral Corp., and TRW Inc. Motorola Satellite Communications, Inc., Loral/Qualcomm, L.P. and TRW Inc. received licenses, meaning they can begin building and operating multi-satellite systems capable of providing voice and data communications around the globe. All three systems are scheduled to begin operations in 1998.
NTSB will hold public hearings beginning Feb. 27 in Indianapolis into the crash of American Eagle flight 4184, an ATR-72 that crashed Oct. 31 near Roselawn, Ind., killing all 68 aboard.
Continental's tentative agreement with Boeing to defer delivery of more than two dozen aircraft from 1996-97 to 1998-99 includes some of five Boeing 777s on firm order. The agreement, if finalized, would represent what is thought to be the first time Boeing has allowed a customer to delay a scheduled delivery of the in-development aircraft. When Continental first announced the delivery delay last week, it and at least one other industry source said the deferral would not affect the 777 (DAILY, Jan. 27).
TWA extended from midnight Monday until midnight March 3 the period in which holders of its 11%, 10% and 8% notes and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. can exchange their debt securities for equity. Late last week, TWA and the unofficial creditors committee representing some of the 10% noteholders reached an agreement in principle on revised terms for the exchange (DAILY, Jan. 30).
