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Aviation History
1989
1989 - 0069.PDF
USA approves BA/American deal American Airlines says that the US Department of Trans portation has approved its proposed exchange of data with British Airways as part of the carriers' deal on computer reservation systems. The DoT turned down an earlier agree ment, and its permission was critical to the success of the new deal Flight, December 3, 1988, page 96). American declared itself "ecstatic" at the news. It allows the Sabre system to issue BA tickets worldwide, and ensures non-discriminatory treatment for US carriers in BA's own system—Babs. Sabre will now have an alternative screen which shows all non-stop flights first, followed by direct flights which stop en route, and then by connecting flights. Sabre president Kathy Misunas said American would be better able to compete in the UK, and she hoped that other European carriers would agree similar terms. Meanwhile, American has purchased a worldwide licence to use the Automator software developed by Direct Tech nology of the UK. The system can be incorporated into a Sabre agent's workstation to automate functions such as searching for the cheapest flights, updating with cancel lations, and checking fully- booked flights. However, American's exact plans are unknown. German carrier buys A330sandMD-lls West German charter carrier LTU International Airways has ordered three Airbus A3 30s with options on three more, and three McDonnell Douglas MD-lls with an option on a fourth. LTU operates nine TriStars, while its sister company in southern Germany, LTU Sud, has five Boeing 757s, and Majorca-based LTE flies two Boeing 757s. By next year LTU will also have three Boeing 767-300s, followed by the MD-lls in 1991. Deliveries from Airbus Industrie begin in 1994, and in the same year the carrier plans to start selling the TriStars. LTU says that the Airbuses are effectively TriStar replace ments, but adds that some TriStars could stay until 1996. Snecma catches up French aero engine manufac turer Snecma is making good serious production delays caused by last spring's ten- week strike, but deliveries were still 23 engines short of target for 1988. The company had hoped to catch up by the end of the year. The 1988 production target, set in January at roughly 500 engines for the year, will be met late, with an average of 50 engines a month on working days, Snecma officials say. "We hope to fully catch up and revert to full normal prod uction, wiping out all delays early in the new year," a senior official tells Flight. Despite the crippling strike at Snecma's three plants in France, and a lesser work stop page at General Electric's factories in the USA, CFM International engines for Boeing and Airbus have never really failed to reach the client on time. At one stage, towards the end of the French strike, Boeing was down to its last engines, and complained to the manufacturers. Snecma, a 50:50 partner with GE in the CFM 56 engine family, and with a 15 per cent stake in GE's CF6 engine, had to step up production after the strike ended last May, includ ing overtime at the home plants and giving more work to subcontractors, "We are satisfied the way things are now going," the official says. A340 windtunnel tests A 1 / 19th-scale model of the long-range Airbus A340 is prepared for low- speed windtunnel tests at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. The tests are aimed at finalising details such as optimum engine placement, fairing shapes, slat and flap settings, and wingtip-device profiles. BAe sells in Canada Canadian regional carrier Air BC has ordered two British Aerospace 146-200s and five BAe Jetstream 31s, and taken options on three more twin- turboprop Jetstream 31s. Air BC is an affiliate of Air Canada, and flies out of Vancouver to serve commu nities throughout British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon, and north-western USA. It already operates three 146s. The new 146s are due for delivery this month, and the Jetstreams, configured to 19 seats, start arriving in March. Jetstream 31/Super 31 orders now stand at 235 and 146 orders total 145. Skinner named for US DoT President-elect George Bush's choice of Chicago attorney Samuel Skinner to be his new Secretary of Transportation is meeting with general approval from aviation groups. Skinner is particularly admired for taking over as chairman of the loss-ridden Chicago Regional Trans portation Authority and returning it to profitability. He has also been a close- political advisor to the president-elect, and headed his Illinois campaign in 1980 and 1988. He is no stranger to aviation, holding a private pilot licence with multi-engine and instru ment ratings. As the new transportation Secretary, Skinner faces a host of problems, not the least of which is a court decision block ing the Department's effort to impose drug tests on all key workers in the transportation industry. Belize airline expands Tropic Air Commuter, based in the Central American Country of Belize, seems set to ord^r a second Twin Otter. The airline currently has six Cessnas of various types, as well as its first Twin Otter, which fly ten daily scheduled flights throughout the country. Tropic Air Commuter is the first airline in Belize to be issued with an air operator's licence. Managing director John Greif plans to increase the number of routes and to create a Central American commuter airline. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 14 January 1989 II
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