Measure Will Cost Jobs, Flights in Rural Communities

Regional Aviation Partners (RAP) said that its members and supporters are overwhelmingly against implementation of the FAA's Part 139 Certification of Airports rule change, scheduled go into effect at the conclusion of a 120-day comment period that ends June 9, 2004. The rule change must be rejected because it focuses on a particular class of aircraft -- 10 to 30 seat turboprop aircraft -- which are used almost exclusively in small communities that will require airport certification, adding thousands of dollars in additional expense to consumers, air carriers and local governments. The non-profit RAP was founded in April 2001 to represent those who depend on small community air service for access to the global transportation

Crash Survivors Donate To Save Capt. Al Haynes's Daughter

Some of the survivors of United Airlines Flight 232 have found a way to repay a pilot who helped save their lives 15 years ago. They are pitching in for his daughter's bone-marrow transplant. Al Haynes' plea for his daughter, Laurie Arguello, helped her raise the $256,000 needed for the procedure. Haynes is known for a heroic crash landing in July 19, 1989, when the United Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10 he was piloting encountered sever system failures after an engine fan blade disintegrated. The crew used throttles on the two remaining engines to make an emergency landing in Sioux City. Of the 296 persons aboard, 184 survived.

Jets Arrive 6 Years Early

Wide-body jet service has come to T.F. Green Airport, in Providence (RI), six years before planners expected. The debut of scheduled 767 service could fuel the growing debate over airport expansion. The Airport Corporation's board of directors is expected to vote this month or next on whether to ask the FAA for authority to extend the main runway. A longer runway could bring more wide-body jets and people to the airport. Business interests welcome both prospects, but opponents fear congestion and never-ending expansion. Delta used the wide-body plane for five days last month as a test and reported strong demand. The airline switched back to a 182-seat 757 last week, when demand dropped, but expects to bring in the bigger plane again. "The ne

Company Seeks Compromise with Unions

Air Canada's new controlling shareholder offered its non-union workers a compromise on planned changes to the insolvent airline's pension plan and called for talks with the carrier's unions, which have already rejected such proposals. Trinity Time Investments announced it has revised its pension reform proposal to offer Air Canada non-unionized employees the choice of choosing between a defined contribution or defined benefit pension program. Trinity Time, controlled by Hong Kong businessman Victor Li, has proposed changes to Air Canada's pension system to cut millions of dollars in future pension costs and make it easier for the airline to restructure under bankruptcy protection. However, Air Canada's unions have rejected the idea, saying

Claims Mercenaries Onboard

Zimbabwe has seized a U.S. - registered cargo plane with 64 suspected mercenaries of various nationalities and a cargo of "military material," Home Affairs (Interior) Minister Kembo Mohadi said on Monday. "A United States of America-registered Boeing 727-100 cargo plane was detained last night at about 1930 hours (12:30 ET) at Harare International Airport after its owners had made a false declaration of its cargo and crew," Mohadi said in a statement. "The plane was actually carrying 64 suspected mercenaries of various nationalities," he said, adding that an investigation had also revealed "military material" in the cargo. Mohadi said fuller investigations were under way to establish the identity of the men and the nature of their mission.