Company Adds Three Airlines To United Express Program

On Monday, United Airlines named Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America as new United Express partners. The Regionals will begin operating as United Express later this year. Under the agreement, Chautauqua will operate 16 50-seat regional jets, Republic Airlines will fly 16 70-seat RJs and Shuttle America will operate 10 Saab 340s. The 32 RJs and 10 turboprops will serve United's Washington Dulles and Chicago O'Hare hubs as well as "a number of other smaller markets" in the US. The agreements with Chautauqua and Republic expire in 2014 while the contract with Shuttle America runs through 2005 and includes a renewal option.

US Airways, LOT Accept First Jets

Embraer announced Monday that U.S. launch customer US Airways has taken delivery of its first two 170 airliners. The company ordered 85 Embraer 170 jets and took options on an additional 50 in May 2003. US Airways -- the nation's seventh largest airline -- plans to put the airplanes into service in early April. In addition to the US airways launch, Embraer also announced that Poland's LOT Polish Airlines has taken delivery of its first Embraer 170 airliner. The airplane, leased from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), is  to be placed into service before the end of March. The Embraer 170 was awarded type certification from Brazilian, U.S. and European authorities last February, paving the way for deliveries to start in key markets

Last Year Proved Much Better Than 2002

While Boeing continues to take a beating in virtually every segment of its operation, Airbus parent EADS seems to be doing just fine. EADS posted a net profit of eur152 million ($185.4 million) for 2003, compared to a net loss of eur299 million in the prior year when results were impacted by eur936 million in goodwill charges. Owing to "strong growth in its defense business and better than expected performance at Airbus," operating profit reached eur1.54 billion, up 8 percent on 2002 and above a previous forecast of eur1.43 billion. Airbus out paced Boeing for the first time as it delivered 305 aircraft in 2003, up slightly from 303 units in 2002. It received 254 net orders compared to 233 in the prior year. The fourth quarter was "partic

Hanadi Hindi Hopes To Fly For National Airline

In a country where women are not allowed to drive, 25-year-old Hanadi Hindi hopes to become the first female to fly one of Saudi Arabia's commerical jets. Hanadi is not quite ready to sit in the cockpit of a Saudi Arabian Airlines jumbo jet as yet. At the moment, she only has a Private Pilot’s License (PPL) but she says she is determined to go on to take a Commercial Pilot’s License and an Instrument Rating (CPL and IR) from the same school — the Mideast Aviation Academy in Jordan. Her father, Zakaria Hindi, a retired civil servant, is currently arranging the financing of her costly pursuit. But judging from the fact that he was the driving force behind her flying ambitions, the chances are that money will not gr

AD NUMBER: 2004-05-19

MANUFACTURER: Boeing SUBJECT: Rear Spar Attach Pins, Bolts SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to all Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This action requires an inspection of the rear spar attach pins and front spar attach bolts that attach the horizontal stabilizers to the horizontal stabilizer center section for damage; and follow-on or corrective actions, as applicable.

AD NUMBER: 2004-05-16

MANUFACTURER: Boeing SUBJECT: Aft Bulkhead SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 767-200 and -300 series airplanes, that requires repetitive inspections of the aft pressure bulkhead web, and corrective action, if necessary. This action is necessary to detect and correct fatigue cracks in the aft pressure bulkhead web, which could result in uncontrolled rapid decompression.

AD NUMBER: 2004-04-10

MANUFACTURER: Airbus SUBJECT: Landing Gear Selector Valves SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Airbus Model A300B2 and A300 B4 series airplanes; A300 B4-600, B4-600R, C4-605R Variant F, and F4-600R (collectively called A300-600); and A310 series airplanes. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, identifying the part number of the landing gear selector valves. For all airplanes, this AD requires repetitive maintenance tasks or operational tests of the landing gear selector valves, and replacing discrepant valves with certain new valves.