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Aviation History
1999
1999 - 1329.PDF
Alitalia shops for regional jet ALITALIA IS examining options for a major regional jet acquisition. The carrier plans to introduce aircraft in the 50-seat and 80/100-seat category for its Alitalia Express operations and it is considering placing an order for Boeing 747-400s to improve its long-haul fleet compatibility with partner KLM. The Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet CRJ- 200 and Embraer RJ-145 are being studied to meet Alitalia's requirement for between 18 and 22 50-seat jets to supplement the Alitalia Express turboprop fleet. An unspecified number of larger regional jets are also needed. Alitalia Express operates nine ATR42s and four ATR 72-210As. Three of the ATR 42 s will be replaced later this year with a simi lar number of recently ordered ATR 72 -500s, with the former pos sibly being redeployed to Alitalia's proposed southern Italy-based regional carrier (Flight Inter national, 31 March-6 April). The new jets will be used pri marily to rationalise the regional fleet that feeds Alitalia's Milan Malpensa hub, but they could also be used for the new regional carri er, which is expected to launch ser vices next year. Alitalia confirms that it needs equipment "soon", and may be forced to acquire sec ondhand aircraft in the interim. Alitalia is also studying the replacement of four of its 11 747- 200s - eight passenger models and three freighters - with up to five new Boeing 747-400s. The move would give Alitalia better fleet commonality with partner KLM, which operates 19 General Electric CF6-powered Boeing 747-400s, and has a further five on order. The two airlines' long haul fleets already have some commonality as both operate Boeing MD- lis. G As well as regional jets, Alitalia may replace some 141-200s with -400s Pan Am owner aims for scheduled start GUILFORD Transportation Industries, which operates Pan American World Airways as a charter carrier, appears ready to start scheduled airline service through the acquisition of two financially troubled LJS airlines. Miami-based Pan Am was acquired in a federal bankruptcy court by Guilford, a regional rail concern, last June. In March, Guilford was ready to provide Newark, New Jersey-based Kiwi International Airlines with a $3 million cash infusion in anticipa tion of a bid for the assets of the air line. The airline was then ground ed by the US Federal Aviation Administration, however, over safety issues. Guilford remains interested in Kiwi if it can regain its operating certificate. The FAA has agreed to suspend rather than revoke Kiwi's operating certificate pending completion of an expedited revalidation review. Kiwi says the process could take about 120 days, if financing is found. "We will be completing the revalidating process while reorgan ising our structure and pursuing financial options," the airline says. Meanwhile, David Fink, presi dent of Guilford Transportation, is heading a new company to acquire Georgia-based Nations Air Express, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last October. Fink says Nations Air's scheduled service certification "represents a strong base on which to build". Mark McDonald, Nations Air's president and chief executive, plans to remain with the reorganised air line as it expands its fleet and re establishes its position as a low-cost domestic scheduled airline. • FAA introduces WAAS to Asia with Singapore flight trials THE US FEDERAL Aviation Administration demonstrat ed the capabilities of its Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) in the Asia-Pacific region for the first time earlier this month. The flight trials were conducted on the FAAs Boeing 727 equipped to perform navigation and landing operations using a global position ing system (GPS) signal. The navi gation signal was generated by a differential reference station at the Singapore Aviation Academy. Raw GPS satellite data were processed by the differential reference station and a new navigation signal, with improved accuracy, availability and integrity, was sent back to the 727 to conduct real-time Category I precision approaches at Singapore Changi Airport. The trials are part of FAA efforts to demonstrate trie GPS augmen tation system outside the USA. There have been demonstrations in Mexico, Iceland and Italy. • MARKETPLACE ++ ILFC has placed an A32O200 powered by IAE V2500-A5s with German operator LTU for five years. The aircraft was handed over late last month. The leasing concern has also secured deals with Brussels International Airlines for a A321-100 to be delivered in June. Polynesian Airlines is tak ing a Boeing 737-800 in November 2000 for 10 years. ++ Saab Aircraft Leasing (SAL) has placed a 340B on lease with Canadian regional carrier Calm Air, and a 340B with US Airways Express operator Chautauqua. SAL has also sold a 340Ato German region al OLT. Leases with American Eagle on 25 340Bplus aircraft have been extended by six years to 2006/7. Saab will take back 12 340As and 20 340Bs from American Eagle and Business Express over three years as part of the deal. ++AB Airlines has taken delivery of athird 737-300 on lease from Boullion Aviation. The London Stansted-based airline is alsotalkingto Boeing about acquir ing 717s to replace its two BAC1- 11s. ++ Embraer has delivered the 350th EMB-120 Brasilia to Delta Connection and United Express carrier SkyWest Airlines. The air craft is the 89th Brasilia acquired by the airline. ++ Corsair of France has wet leased a 737-400 from Futura International Airlines for eight months. ++ British Aero space Asset Management (BAeAM) has sold three BAe 146- 300s to ANZ Investment Bank for a combined value of $40 million. The aircraft are on long-term lease to Aer Lingus. BAeAM has also placed six secondhand Jetstream 31s with Page, Arizona-based Sunrise Airlines. Georgia Jet, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, has pur chased two J31s from BAeAM for operation on air medical and corpo rate services. ++ Piedmont Air lines has taken the firsttwo of nine Bombardier Dash 8 Q200s ordered in March. The aircraft are being used on Florida services. ++ Gulf- stream International Airlines is adding four de Havilland Dash 7s which had been operated by sister airline Paradise Island Airlines. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 19 - 25 May 1999
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