Career Pilot

Industry News

Industry news is more important to career development and the job search than many aspiring career pilots realize. What new regulations that could affect your career lurk just over the horizon? A proposal is pending, for example, that could eliminate the longstanding FAA regulation that required airline pilots to leave the cockpit when they turn 60.

Which airline is thinking about buying another carrier? That could affect you directly if you work for the acquired carrier. Who is ordering new airplanes? If new aircraft are an addition to the carrier's existing fleet, it will have to hire more pilots to fly them. How is the industry—and individual airlines—doing financially? While a company's financial situation can change over time, you should know how an airline stands when you apply.

Frontier announces codeshare with Midwest

Frontier Airlines has entered into a codeshare agreement with Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines, the Denver-based carrier announced June 29. The agreement, which is scheduled to begin by late summer, will allow Frontier Airlines to sell tickets under a Frontier code and expand its network to additional destinations currently served by Midwest, and vice versa. “Under the codeshare, customers of both airlines will benefit from a wider choice of travel destinations and additional flight options and connection possibilities,” explained Gregory D. Aretakis, a vice president for Midwest. “They will also have the convenience of booking their entire flight on a single ticket.”

[ POSTED JUNE 30, 2009 ]

Flight attendants seek job protections in United, Continental alliance

Flight attendants at United Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA-CWA), are pressing the Department of Transportation to ensure American jobs are protected when considering the antitrust immunity filing to join Continental with United Airlines and the Star Alliance. Their efforts follow an announcement by United that it will furlough 2,150 flight attendants this fall. As United Airlines management helped grow the Star Alliance to the largest in the world over the last decade, flight attendants at the carrier said their ranks were cut by nearly half, or 12,000 jobs. Anticompetitive concerns identified by the Department of Justice directly relate to conditions that lead to greater job loss, they said. Fares rise as the frequency of flights is diminished when all competition is erased.

[ POSTED JUNE 30, 2009 ]

Boeing joins wing to first 747-8 Freighter; 787 slips again

Boeing workers attached the 40-foot fuselage section of its first 747-8 Freighter to the center wing box in the final assembly bay at the factory in Everett, Wash., on June 29. The wing and center section are now being prepared for final body join, when the assembly will be connected to the forward and aft fuselage sections. The 747-8 Freighter will offer 16 percent more cargo volume than the 747-400 Freighter, but operating costs will remain essentially the same; cargo operators have ordered 78 of the new jets. A few days earlier, Boeing announced that the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner will be postponed so that it can reinforce part of the aircraft structure. It’s the fifth major delay of the new airliner’s first flight, The Seattle Times reported. Boeing said a new schedule for the first flight and first delivery will be available in several weeks.

[ POSTED JUNE 30, 2009 ]

Southwest begins LaGuardia service

Southwest Airlines celebrated its new service at New York’s LaGuardia Airport June 28 by serving New York-style bagels to customers and employees while they were serenaded by Southwest's rapping flight attendant, David Holmes. Southwest began service to LaGuardia with five daily nonstops to Chicago Midway and three daily nonstop flights to Baltimore/Washington International.

[ POSTED JUNE 30, 2009 ]

Colgan accident may mean big changes

Pilot duty time, training, and hiring standards could change as a result of the fatal Colgan accident earlier this year in Buffalo, according to industry representatives at a meeting held last week. They spoke at the FAA’s first summit held specifically to discuss the possible changes, which could include longer rest periods between trips, new training standards and techniques, and more scrutiny of pilot checkride records during the hiring process. More meetings are scheduled in the future, after which the FAA will likely change certain regulations.

[ POSTED JUNE 23, 2009 ]

Boeing predicts strong growth

Despite a sluggish economy, Boeing is predicting strong long-term growth. The airplane-maker said it expects a $3.2 trillion market for commercial aircraft over the next 20 years, or 29,000 new passenger and cargo airplanes. The biggest demand is expected to be for those airplanes that are highly fuel-efficient. According to Boeing, passenger demand will grow at an average of 4.9 percent each year for the next 20 years.

[ POSTED JUNE 23, 2009 ]

Contract pilot demand up

Although some airlines and corporate operators are shedding pilot jobs, demand for contract pilots is up, according to flycontract.com. The Web site, which matches employers with pilots and flight attendants, has seen demand increase by more than 50 percent over the past six months.

[ POSTED JUNE 23, 2009 ]

Southwest Pilots strike down contract proposal

Members of the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association last week narrowly struck down a vote to ratify a contract proposal with the low-cost airline. The final vote was nearly 51 percent against the proposal with more than 95 percent of pilots participating. According to union leadership, the proposed contract included pay increases, but must have offered too many concessions to make it worthwhile. Union leadership now has to go back to the bargaining table with airline management to come up with a new proposal. Negotiations have been ongoing for more than two years.

[ POSTED JUNE 9, 2009 ]

United may buy 150 new jets

There was word last week that United Airlines put out requests for a bid of 150 aircraft to both Boeing and Airbus. It’s not certain that the carrier, which currently operates 396 aircraft, will end up purchasing the new jets. Don’t expect United’s potential new aircraft to be super jumbo jets. Instead, the carrier will focus on smaller, more fuel-efficient airplanes. If the deal goes through, the purchase plan is expected to cover the next 25 years.

[ POSTED JUNE 9, 2009 ]

TSA power limited in new bill

The House of Representatives last week passed H.R.2200, the Transportation Security Administration’s funding bill that includes language that would limit the agency’s authority to unilaterally impose security directives. Under the terms of the bill, the TSA would be required to form a GA coalition that would have input on potential security measures that affect the industry. Some recent security directives would have made it difficult for transient pilots to gain access to GA ramps.

[ POSTED JUNE 9, 2009 ]

Business aviation slump may be over

The recent steep decline of business aviation activity and business aircraft sales may be coming to an end, according to a number of recent industry reports. Brian Foley Associates, a business aviation consulting group, said that although some future bad news is expected, businesses such as charter firms and FBOs have seen some encouraging results recently. “The business jet industry is no longer careening off a cliff, it’s just bouncing off the rocks below,” said principal Brian Foley.

[ POSTED JUNE 3, 2009 ]

Expert says aviation emission standard inevitable

It’s only a matter of time before emissions standards are applied to aviation, according to the international climate policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. Addressing a recent aviation environmental meeting, Jake Schmidt referenced current legislation in Congress that seeks to cut carbon emissions dramatically over the four decades, as well as a specific EPA mandate to develop a carbon dioxide standard for new aircraft by 2012.

[ POSTED JUNE 3, 2009 ]

Airline pilot jobs rose last year

Despite a tough economy, airline pilot and maintenance jobs rose in 2008 over 2007 numbers, according to the Labor Department’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The bureau said U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 2.3 percent more pilots and 5.9 percent more maintenance personnel in 2008 than in 2007. The major airlines added 1.1 percent to the pilot workforce, while all the low-cost carriers except for Frontier Airlines added new pilots to the ranks.

[ POSTED JUNE 3, 2009 ]

Collier Trophy recognizes aviation safety technologies

On Thursday, the National Aeronautics Association will present the 2008 Robert J. Collier Trophy to the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST), an industry/government partnership established in 1997 with the goal of reducing the U.S. commercial aviation fatal accident rate by 80 percent in 10 years. The nomination notes the partnership’s original goal was difficult to achieve, but that “the year 2008 topped the previous year as the safest year in commercial aviation history, and the CAST team is proud to report the risk in fatal commercial accidents has been reduced by 83 percent.” NASA’s Aviation Safety Program has been a part of CAST since the team was established. NAA awarded the 2007 trophy to a team that included NASA’s Langley and Ames research centers for their work on Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADS-B, a system that allows aircraft to be tracked by satellite rather than radar.

[ POSTED MAY 26, 2009 ]

WestJet, Southwest delay code sharing

WestJet and Southwest Airlines will delay implementation of a code-share agreement, in part because of economic conditions. With the recessionary revenue environment, Southwest has decided to redirect some resources from the code-share project toward other near-term revenue opportunities, WestJet said. “Our continued US expansion is a key strategy for our airline, but code-sharing is only one element of this,” said Dr. Hugh Dunleavy, WestJet’s executive vice president of commercial distribution. “WestJet’s implementation of the Sabre reservation system, which is key to code-sharing, is continuing on track and will be ready for launch in the fourth quarter of 2009.” Bob Jordan, Southwest’s executive vice president for strategy and planning, said the airline remains absolutely committed to its partnership with WestJet and to code-sharing in general.

[ POSTED MAY 26, 2009 ]

Boeing completes first 787 Dreamliner engine runs

Boeing has completed the first engine runs on the all-new 787 Dreamliner. During the initial engine runs, which lasted about 40 minutes, the engines were started and operated at various power settings to ensure all systems performed as expected. The test began with the auxiliary power system providing power to start the two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. Basic systems checks continued throughout the test. The engines were powered down and inspected and will be restarted following a technical review. A vibration check was completed and the shutdown logic was monitored to ensure it functioned as expected.

[ POSTED MAY 26, 2009 ]

Spirit pilots could strike

Pilots at Spirit Airlines recently voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if negotiations come to a halt. According to the Air Line Pilots Association, Spirit pilots have been in negotiations for more than two years, during which time airline management has repeatedly violated terms of the current contract. At issue is the fact that the airline is asking for more than $5 million in concessions while at the same time undergoing expansion plans. Fully 98 percent of voting members supported the possibility of strike.

[ POSTED MAY 19, 2009 ]

LaHood may cancel NYC slot auctions

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is proposing the cancellation of plans to auction a certain number of landing slots at New York City’s three major commercial airports. LaHood said the plan was controversial, and perhaps even irrelevant given the current state of the economy. LaHood said he is committed to reducing congestion in the New York City area and that he plans to meet with stakeholders this summer on how to move forward.

[ POSTED MAY 19, 2009 ]

‘Passengers left at the gate’

A large passenger rights group says airline passengers will be “left at the gate” if the FAA reauthorization bill goes through Congress as is. According to FlyersRights.org, there is no provision in the bill that limits the amount of time passengers can be held in an airplane on the ground, a key issue for passenger rights groups. In fact, the group said, the bill leaves that decision up to the airlines themselves. FlyersRights.org Executive Director Kate Hanni is pushing for a three-hour maximum.

[ POSTED MAY 19, 2009 ]

Delta adds Wi-Fi to half of domestic fleet

Delta Air Lines has installed Wi-Fi on nearly half of its domestic mainline fleet. Of the more than 300 airplanes Delta operates on U.S. routes, 139 are equipped with Gogo Inflight Internet, including the entire MD-88 fleet. Installation in the MD-90 fleet will be complete by the end of May, with the remainder of the domestic fleet scheduled for completion by September. Installation plans also include approximately 200 pre-merger Northwest airplanes slated for completion next year. The cost of Wi-Fi access on a single Delta flight ranges from $7.95 to $12.95; soon, customers will be able to purchase month-long, unlimited-use passes. AirTran Airways announced May 12 that its entire fleet of 136 jets will be fully outfitted with in-flight Wi-Fi by mid-summer.

[ POSTED MAY 12, 2009 ]

Boeing offers convertible BBJ

Boeing announced May 11 the availability of the BBJ Convertible. The Boeing Business Jet iteration, a derivative of the 737 airliner, can be reconfigured from all-passenger to all-cargo configuration in less than eight hours. In addition, BBJs delivered after mid-2011 will see fuel consumption reduced by 2 percent through a combination of airframe and engine improvements that Boeing announced in late April.

[ POSTED MAY 12, 2009 ]

American flying 757s overseas, updating fleet

American Airlines is reconfiguring 18 of its 124 Boeing 757s for use on international routes, and a May 7 flight from New York City to Brussels was the first international departure with the new configuration, which features new seats, new cabin interiors, and updated in-flight entertainment systems. The 757 Business Class cabin, with a 2-2 seating configuration, features 16 next-generation, angled lie-flat seats with drop-down armrests and on-demand audio/video in-seat entertainment systems. Since April 14, four new Boeing 737-800 aircraft joined American’s fleet, the first of 76 that will arrive through the first quarter of 2011. These deliveries will expand American’s current fleet of 77 737-800s and are intended to eventually replace the carrier’s MD-80s.

[ POSTED MAY 12, 2009 ]

United mechanics seek to oust Teamsters

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) wants to help United Airlines’ 9,000 mechanics and related employees return to Machinists Union representation. “At the request of a diverse group of United Airlines Mechanic and Related employees, the Machinists Union has launched a drive to help them return to the only union that can provide a secure defined benefit pension plan and the cross-classification solidarity they need,” said IAM General Vice President Robert Roach Jr. “The lack of a secure pension option and the system-wide lack of servicing caused their UAL members to seek a union with a strong focus on local representation,” said Roach. IAM currently represents 17,000 other United Airlines employees.

[ POSTED MAY 12, 2009 ]

ATA responds to air travel avoidance suggestion

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) last Thursday responded to remarks made by U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden on NBC’s “Today” show. “Vice President Biden's comment that people should avoid air travel in response to the H1N1 flu outbreak was extremely disappointing,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “The airlines have been working daily with government agencies, none of whom suggest people avoid air travel, unless they are not feeling well. The fact is that the air onboard a commercial aircraft is cleaner than that in most public buildings.” ATA, a trade association for U.S. airlines, posted its letter to Biden on its Web site.

[ POSTED MAY 5, 2009 ]

First Boeing 787 Dreamliner nearer to flight testing

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner expected to fly later this quarter has moved to the flight line. Fuel testing, the first in the next phase of extensive checks the airplane must undergo, is to begin soon. “We are making great progress, and moving ever closer to first flight,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 Dreamliner program. The airframe has completed a rigorous series of tests, including a full simulation of the first flight using the actual airplane. With Chief Pilot Mike Carriker at the controls, the simulation tested all flight controls, hardware, and software. The simulation also included manual and automatic landings and an extensive suite of subsequent ground tests. All structural tests required on the static airframe prior to first flight also are complete. Boeing on April 30 delivered the seventy-fifth 777 commercial jetliner to Dubai-based Emirates, which is expected to become the world's largest 777 operator later this year.

[ POSTED MAY 5, 2009 ]

Piper gets new owner; PiperJet to continue

Piper Aircraft, Inc. announced Friday that Imprimis, a corporate finance and investment management firm that operates from Bangkok, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam, has purchased a 100-percent stake in the 72-year-old company. Piper said its new owner intends to invest significant capital in the company’s current operations, to strengthen its position in its traditional markets and continue development of key new products such as the PiperJet. Imprimis also believes Piper has significant potential in new Asia Pacific markets. Piper's headquarters, production, and product development facilities are expected to remain in Vero Beach, Fla.

[ POSTED MAY 5, 2009 ]

HondaJet first flight, deliveries delayed

Because of delays in delivery of major subassemblies utilizing proprietary Honda designs and technologies, Honda Aircraft Company has moved the first flight target for the conforming HondaJet aircraft to January 2010. The first customer delivery, originally scheduled for late 2010, is projected to take place the fourth quarter of 2011. “We have been working very closely with our suppliers over the past year in an effort to minimize the effect of the ongoing worldwide economic instability on HondaJet development,” said Michimasa Fujino, Honda Aircraft Company president and CEO. “Unfortunately, we now have no choice but to revise our schedule.” Honda Aircraft recently completed a research and development center at its Greensboro, N.C., campus that features more than four acres under roof; ground is to be broken this summer on the HondaJet production facility.

[ POSTED MAY 5, 2009 ]

Airline demand down in April

Demand for the world’s airlines continued to slide this month, with six percent fewer flights and three percent fewer available seats in April compared to the same period last year, according to aviation data provider OAG. April marked the ninth straight month of decline. OAG said 136,000 fewer flights took place this month, with most market softening coming from Europe and North America. Demand in the Middle East and Asia remained strong, the firm said.

[ POSTED APRIL 28, 2009 ]

Cessna offers new trainer configuration

For decades future airline pilots have trained in light Cessna aircraft, such as the 152 and 172. Now those aircraft may look a little different at flight schools thanks to Cessna’s novel approach to seating. Instead of a bench seat in the back, Cessna’s new 172 with the optional crew resource management configuration features a single seat in the center behind the pilot and copilot seats. It’s specifically tailored to airline and university flight schools, according the manufacturer.

[ POSTED APRIL 28, 2009 ]

AirTran posts profit

Despite a deep recession that has left even Southwest Airlines unable to turn a profit in the first quarter, fellow low-cost carrier AirTran said last week it squeezed out a relatively large $28.7 million gain. This is compared to a $35.4-million loss for the first quarter last year. According to the Atlanta-based carrier, the profit resulted from its decision to begin cutting seats when fuel prices soared last summer.

[ POSTED APRIL 28, 2009 ]

ATA reports continued decline in passenger, cargo demand

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) reported that passenger revenue fell 23 percent in March 2009 compared to March 2008—the fifth consecutive month in which passenger revenue has fallen from the prior year. March passenger traffic on U.S. airlines fell by 10 percent, while the overall cost to fly one mile fell by 13 percent. U.S. airlines also saw cargo traffic decline 21 percent year over year in February 2009. “We are seeing first quarter 2009 earnings for the U.S. airline industry that reflect the adverse conditions impacting the broader economy,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “While the industry faces demand uncertainty as we head into the summer, we certainly would like to believe that we have seen the low point.”

[ POSTED APRIL 21, 2009 ]

Delta, Southwest, United report losses

Three major airlines have reported losses for the quarter ending in March 2009. Delta Air Lines reported a net loss for the quarter of $794 million, but the company said excluding $684 million in realized fuel hedge losses and special items, its results were breakeven. Delta also said that it realized approximately $100 million in synergy benefits from its merger with Northwest Airlines during the quarter. UAL Corporation, parent of United Airlines, reported a first quarter net loss of $579 million. Even industry bellwether Southwest Airlines reported a first quarter net loss of $91 million, despite a record first-quarter load factor.

[ POSTED APRIL 21, 2009 ]

Boeing assembles first 747-8 wings

The Boeing Company has completed major assembly of the first set of wings for the 747-8 Freighter. The new 135-foot, 3-inch wings incorporate aerodynamic technologies that will allow it to fly farther and more efficiently. The advanced airfoil provides improved overall performance and greater fuel capacity. The Boeing 747-8 Freighter is a new, high-capacity 747 variant designed to minimize operating costs.

[ POSTED APRIL 21, 2009 ]

Narrowbodies to carry Boeing through downturn

After an announcement recently that Boeing plans to drastically reduce production of its widebody 777, the planemaker said last week it is holding steady on production levels of the narrowbody 737 line. According to analysts, however, a 30- to 40-percent cut will be necessary to remain competitive. Although Boeing still claims more than 2,000 backorders for the venerable jets, more than 175 relatively new airplanes sit idle in boneyards around the world because of reduced passenger demand.

[ POSTED APRIL 15, 2009 ]

In tough times, two airlines offer bonuses

Pilots and other employees at Continental Airlines and Delta Air Lines received welcome news last week when the two global carriers handed out employee bonuses. Delta gave employees a total of about $6 million, or about $100 each, for meeting on-time performance goals. And executives at Continental added an additional $50 million to employee pension plans, bringing the year-to-date total to$100 million.

[ POSTED APRIL 15, 2009 ]

Florida school offers free open house

Jet University, a flight school at Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport in Florida that is dedicated to career pilot training, will hold an open house April 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event will feature the school’s glass-cockpit-equipped Diamond training airplanes, an L-39 jet, a Beechcraft King Air, and a Canadair Regional Jet simulator. Sessions flying the CRJ simulator will be available for free with an online reservation. The school’s flight instructors and airline pilot consultants will also be on hand to answer questions about learning to fly for fun or a career.

[ POSTED APRIL 15, 2009 ]

Airline contract negotiations difficult

USA Today reported this week that a number of unions in contract negotiations are having difficulty recovering pay and benefits slashed after the 2001 downturn, thanks to the current economic condition. Various unions are in talks with their respective management at United Airlines, Continental Airlines, US Airways, Air Tran, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines. According to the story, one option being considered is to change the industry practice of automatic pay increases for workers and executives regardless of the company’s financial health.

[ POSTED APRIL 7, 2009 ]

ASA temporarily grounds CRJ fleet

No doubt cautious because of similar situations at Southwest Airlines and American Airlines last year, Atlantic Southeast Airlines last week grounded 60 of its 112 Canadair CRJ 200 regional jets to ensure that inspections on their General Electric CJ34 engines had been completed. A company spokeswoman said it was unclear whether the inspections had already been completed and not properly documented, or whether they had been overlooked. After cancelling 277 flights, the airline returned the jets to service later in the week.

[POSTED APRIL 7, 2009]

FAA predicts long-term growth for aviation

The FAA said in its annual aviation forecast released last week that it expects domestic passenger enplanements to drop by almost 8 percent this year, followed by average annual increases of 2.7 percent for the next 15 years. The report also said U.S. airlines will carry one billion passengers by 2021, a full five years later than when the agency said that would happen in last year’s forecast.

[ POSTED APRIL 7, 2009 ]

Tarver joins FltOps.com

Experienced career counselor Judy Tarver has joined FltOps.com as the vice president of pilot career services. In her new position, Tarver will be responsible for implementing the company’s global pilot hiring database, according to Louis Smith, the company’s president. Tarver has more than 30 years of experience in pilot selection and recruitment, and as a consultant. As manager of pilot recruitment for American Airlines, she oversaw the hiring of more than 7,100 pilots.

[ POSTED APRIL 7, 2009 ]

Military needs more UAV pilots

Although it may not seem as glorious as a job in the cockpit, the military will need thousands of unmanned aerial vehicle pilots over the coming decades, according to military news sources. The Air Force has begun training nonpilots to fly the drones because so few qualified aircraft pilots are willing to transfer. While commissioned officers must fly drone attack missions, a number of civilian contractors employ nonmilitary personnel to conduct reconnaissance flights.

[ POSTED MARCH 31, 2009 ]

Airline wardrobe a concern for pilots, flight attendants

Two dress items made news this week as Northwest Airlines pilots and flight attendants were required to trade their uniforms for Delta livery, and one Air Tran pilot was suspended for wearing his outside of work. Switching uniforms has proven to be one of the most visible signs to travelers that Northwest and Delta are now one company. This move is in addition to major rebranding at airports around the world. Meanwhile, an Air Tran pilot was recently suspended for wearing his uniform to a union event, a violation of the collective bargaining agreement. Although the pilot was apparently dropping off his family at a union picnic on the way to work, the airline stood by its decision to suspend the offending pilot.

[ POSTED MARCH 31, 2009 ]

Bombardier adds to CSeries order book

Buoyed by a firm order from launch customer Lufthansa, Bombardier announced this week it received a firm order for 20 CSeries aircraft from lease company Corporation International Aviation Limited. Valued at a list price of $1.44 billion, the order includes options for 20 more aircraft. The ordering company is a subsidiary of Lease Corporation International Limited, an international company that leases commercial aircraft to airlines.

[ POSTED MARCH 31, 2009 ]

Airlines expected to lose $4.7 billion this year

Airlines around the world are projected to lose an estimated $4.7 billion this year, according to the International Air Transport Association. That estimate is almost double what IATA said in December would be the year’s loss. According to the industry trade group, falling fuel prices have been offset by reduced passenger and cargo demand. Although the situation doesn’t look good, IATA said, things should start to rebound through the second half of the year. Incidentally, North American airlines are expected to do the best in the world with $100 million in profits.

[ POSTED MARCH 24, 2009 ]

World airline demand down five percent

The world’s airlines scheduled almost five percent fewer flights in March, translating to a three-percent decline in seat capacity, according to consulting firm OAG Aviation. OAG said the world’s airlines are expected to fly 2.38 million flights this month, a reduction of 122,000 flights from March of last year. March is a continuation of an eight-month decline in scheduled flights, which are down seven percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.

[ POSTED MARCH 24, 2009 ]

Dassault Falcon, Cessna see declining demand

Although Dassault Falcon Jet said it expects to deliver more jets this year than last, demand for new aircraft is sinking fast. DFJ said it will deliver 90 aircraft this year, compared to 72 last year. But in a negative turn of events, Bloomberg reports that the manufacturer had more cancellations than orders during the past two quarters. Meanwhile, Cessna CEO Jack Pelton said the company is scaling back production on three of its Citation models to meet reduced demand. Further layoffs are expected as a result.

[ POSTED MARCH 24, 2009 ]

Lufthansa inks order for Bombardier jets

Lufthansa last week signed an order for 30 CSeries Bombardier jets with an option for an additional 30. The deal is significant because the German carrier has long been touted as the launch customer for the super-regional 100- to 149-seat CSeries. The 100-seat jets that Lufthansa will take delivery of in 2013 will be powered by Pratt & Whitney’s new geared turbofan engine, and will be operated by Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines.

[ POSTED MARCH 17, 2009 ]

Air Tran sees fees as key to profitability this year

The additional fees that airline passengers love to hate will make Air Tran Airlines profitable in every quarter this year, according to airline CEO Bob Fornaro. Fornaro said that even though oil prices are down, demand also is reduced. That decreased demand has led to lower prices, but the fees have increased revenue to the point that the airline expects to be in the black.

[ POSTED MARCH 17, 2009 ]

United Technologies to lay off almost 12,000 workers

United Technologies, the parent company of helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky and turboprop and jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney, said last week it will lay off 11,600 workers, or five percent of its workforce. Although the cuts are expected to cross all of the company’s sectors, including elevator and air conditioning, the aerospace market is a major factor. Pratt & Whitney Canada, which makes business aircraft engines, said that demand for its products has dropped off considerably.

[ POSTED MARCH 17, 2009 ]

Alaska Airlines announces tentative deal with pilots

After more than two years of contract talks, Alaska Airlines and the Air Line Pilots Association announced last week that they had come to an agreement in concept for the carrier’s 1,500 pilots. The current contract for the pilots became amendable in May 2007, and the two sides began discussions in January of that year. If the airline and its elected pilot union representation formally agree to the contract principles, the final decision will rest with the pilots, who then will vote whether or not to ratify the agreement.

[ POSTED MARCH 10, 2009 ]

Mesa denied use of Aloha branding

Although a simple court hearing was all that was left in the way of Mesa subsidiary go! using the name of its former competitor Aloha, the judge denied the request and sent the parties back to the beginning of the process. According to the court, the public auction process in which Mesa offered Aloha parent company Yucaipa millions for the name was not public at all. Other would–be bidders testified they had been shut out of the bidding, and the judge agreed to start the process over. One analyst said he expects Mesa will eventually be given rights to the name.

[ POSTED MARCH 10, 2009 ]

No Plane, No Gain makes gains

An industry public relations effort aimed at educating the public and influencers about the value of business aviation in the face of heightened scrutiny seems to be taking hold. Last week Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas said, “I will continue to fight against any measure that negatively impacts the use of general aviation aircraft or limits the ability to utilize these aircraft to grow business opportunities.” Brownback’s comments echo those by a number of high–profile Washington–commentators, including radio personality Rush Limbaugh.

[ POSTED MARCH 10, 2009 ]

Former NTSB chief wants to ground turboprops

Although National Transportation Safety Board investigators stressed it was too early in the investigation to make conclusions on the fate of Colgan Air Flight 3407, which crashed in Buffalo, New York, on February 12, former NTSB chief Jim Hall said all twin–turboprop aircraft should be grounded immediately. Hall said that the ATR 42 and Bombardier Q400—one of which was the Flight 3407 aircraft—have inherent problems with icing, mainly due to their slow speeds and pneumatic–boot deicing systems. An FAA spokeswoman said grounding was unlikely.

[ POSTED MARCH 3, 2009 ]

Alaska Airlines answers buyout rumors

Since Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines announced a code sharing agreement three months ago, talk has surfaced that Delta may be preparing to buy Alaska. Alaska CEO Bill Ayers said that although the company is doing well independently, “If there is a better alternative, we will look at that alternative.” Delta has declined to comment on the rumors since the code share agreement was announced, when it said that buying Alaska wasn’t anticipated.

[ POSTED MARCH 3, 2009 ]

HAI attendance breaks record

Despite a slumping economy and continued external pressures on most aviation businesses, the helicopter sector seems to be flourishing. The Helicopter Association International announced last week that attendance at its annual convention was a record-breaking 17,995—some 600 more people than attended last year. HAI also said there were 585 exhibitors, which was also an increase from last year.

[ POSTED MARCH 3, 2009 ]

Southwest Airlines settles with FAA on maintenance discrepancies

The FAA on Monday announced it had reached a $7.5–million settlement with Southwest Airlines for the airline’s maintenance oversights. An initial penalty of $10.2 million was proposed in March after the airline flew almost 60,000 flights without inspecting the airplanes for fatigue cracks; the inspections were required by airworthiness directive. The airline is also being put under a probation that subjects it to stricter oversight and potential fines if future inspections aren’t completed.

[ POSTED MARCH 3, 2009 ]

Delta crew rest procedures challenged

Last October, Delta Air Lines voluntarily instituted tough industry crew rest standards that the rest of the airline industry is now challenging. Under the new standard, crews were required to have 48 hours off before a shift as long as 23 hours, and the airline required four-pilot crews on all long-haul flights. Now other airlines are suing after the FAA adopted the stricter standard for the industry. The suit seeks a formal rulemaking process, something the FAA has thus far declined to do.

[ POSTED FEBRUARY 18, 2009 ]

GA shipments down, billings up last year

Strong general aviation aircraft billings in 2008 were tempered by a decrease in the number of new aircraft delivered worldwide, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced Feb. 17. Billings for new aircraft delivered worldwide during 2008 set an industry record of $24.8 billion, 13.4 percent more than the previous year’s $21.9 billion. However, the number of GA airplanes shipped last year decreased for the first time in five years—to 3,969, a drop of 7.1 percent from 2007. The number of piston-engine aircraft shipped during 2008 decreased compared to previous-year numbers, while shipments of turboprops and business jets increased.

[ POSTED FEBRUARY 18, 2009 ]

AIR, Inc. shutters operation

The struggling economy has claimed AIR, Inc., the Atlanta-based aviation career information service offering information on airline job openings, career fairs, and résumé services. “The current status of the airline industry and the economy has made our business unsustainable, and we are closing,” AIR, Inc. President and Publisher Kit Darby said in a message last week Darby said AIR, Inc. members and subscribers can continue to receive services at no cost from FltOps.com for the duration of their membership, if they enroll with the service by April 15. With the exception of a bump in September 2008, pilot hiring has fallen each month from January 2008 to December 2008, the last month for which hiring data was available. Aviation employers hired 1,101 pilots in January 2008; by December, the number had fallen to 114, according to AIR, Inc. Airline pilot hiring totals for 2008 were 6,479; in 2007, the industry hired 13,157 pilots. In its final forecast, AIR, Inc. estimated that only 5,000 new pilot jobs will be created in 2009.

[ POSTED FEBRUARY 18, 2009 ]

New air taxi service starts in New York

Hopscotch Air is adding itself to a growing list of operators using Cirrus SR22s for intercity air taxi service. The company will operate primarily in the Northeast. Pilots will meet customers at any New York City-area airport and deliver them to their airport of choice. According to Hopscotch Air, the fare will be comparable to that of shuttle service between New York and Boston, and the destination will obviously be closer than airline airports. Although flying a single-engine piston may not seem like an obvious career path, operators like Hopscotch Air are springing up all over the country.

[ POSTED FEBRUARY 18, 2009 ]

Bombardier sales figures fall sharply

Airplane manufacturer Bombardier last week reported a significant sales drop for the 2008 fiscal year. The company sold a total of 378 aircraft between its commercial and business aircraft divisions, a 46-percent decline from the previous year. For the current fiscal year, Bombardier said it expects business aircraft orders to drop by another 10 percent, but for that drop to be offset by a 10-percent increase in commercial orders—especially those for the fuel-efficient Q400 turboprop.

[ POSTED FEBRUARY 10, 2009 ]

JetBlue pilots decline union option

Although it may seem as though every airline’s pilots are unionized, some carriers are still without an organized group. One of those, JetBlue, will remain without representation after its pilots recently voted to forgo a union. A simple majority was required to pass the measure, which would have established the JetBlue Pilots Association as the official pilot union, but only 646 out of 1,937 eligible pilots voted in favor. The vote means JetBlue pilots remain the largest group of nonunionized airline pilots in the United States.

[ POSTED FEBRUARY 10, 2009 ]

Charter executives charged in accident

A 2005 accident in which a Bombardier Challenger business jet operated by Platinum Jet Management crashed on takeoff at Teterboro airport in New Jersey and struck a warehouse has resulted in criminal charges for six of the company’s executives. The six are charged with falsifying documents and misrepresenting the business to customers. It was discovered after the accident that the company did not have a charter operating certificate and its flights were often flown outside of weight and balance limitations, which caused the crash in 2005.

[ POSTED FEBRUARY 10, 2009 ]

Bombardier sales figures fall sharply

[ POSTED FEBRUARY 10, 2009 ]

JetBlue pilots decline union option

[ POSTED FEBRUARY 10, 2009 ]

It’s been happening around the world for months, but Continental Airlines said it will become the first U.S. airline to fly a Transport-category aircraft powered with biofuels in a test this week. The demonstration flight will burn a special fuel blend including components derived from algae and jatropha plants. According to the airline, the demonstration flight will be the first biofuel flight by a commercial carrier using algae as a fuel source—and the first using a two-engine aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 equipped with CFM International CFM56-7B engines.

[ POSTED JANUARY 6, 2009 ]

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