Sunday, May 29, 2016

Airline Executives Gather at International Air Transport Association Convention and Look for Answers: Industry seems more stable now but investors worry about signs of trouble ahead

The Wall Street Journal
By Robert Wall and Doug Cameron
Updated May 29, 2016 8:38 p.m. ET


The airline industry has finally shaken off its boom-and-bust past, says the head of the world’s largest carrier, but investors aren’t buying it because familiar signs of trouble loom on the horizon.

Global air fares are falling as carriers add ever more aircraft, and low oil prices, which helped airlines land record profits of $33 billion last year, are inching higher. In addition, terrorism fears are weighing on bookings and, even as more passengers take to the skies, growth is stalling in some regions.

It’s a challenging mix for the 200-plus airline executives gathering in Dublin this week for the industry’s annual jamboree hosted by the International Air Transport Association, a big trade group.

The message they’d like to deliver echoes that of American Airlines Group Inc. Chief Executive Doug Parker in a well-publicized speech in March.

“We have an industry that also can be a real business like other businesses,” said Mr. Parker, who has spearheaded much of the consolidation that’s allowed airlines to become more efficient, and last year earn more than their cost of capital for the first time.

“The airline business has been fundamentally and structurally transformed and the valuations do not reflect such a transformation,” he said. “They’re not even close.”

Investors have shrugged and headed for the exits, dragging an index of global airline stocks down 6.4% since the start of the year. U.S. carriers have been hit hardest, with Mr. Parker’s American shedding a quarter of its value even as it poured profits into stock buybacks.

Demand isn’t the problem. Global passenger numbers rose 7% in the first quarter from a year earlier, driven largely by growth among carriers in Asia and the Middle East. Fliers are paying less, with global fares down an average 4% through April and are particularly weak on trans-Atlantic flights and in the U.S.

Average U.S. domestic fares haven’t risen in more than a year and airlines don’t expect them to stabilize before the end of 2016.

Hunter Keay, airline analyst at Wolfe Research LLC, last week boosted his airline investor sentiment gauge to 4, on a scale of 1 to 10, having pegged it at 1 or 2 for much of the year. “This is the 2016 version of good news, sadly,” he said of the recent raise.

The executives gathered in Dublin have few levers to pull to soothe disgruntled investors or those passengers facing long security lines at airports this summer.

Airlines can cut flights to gain more control over fares. Such U.S. carriers as Delta Air Lines Inc. have recently announced plans to trim capacity after the Labor Day holiday in September. In Europe, British Airways parent International Consolidated Airlines Group SA and Deutsche Lufthansa AG have also scaled back.

Executives have to be careful in Dublin. Antitrust laws bar them from discussing or coordinating fares in most markets. Comments made at last year’s IATA meeting in Miami form part of a class-action lawsuit lodged against four U.S. carriers, which all deny the charges.

Cheaper jet fuel has been the biggest driver of higher profits, but prices have been rising since January. Still, the airline industry should deliver strong earnings this year, said Peter Morris, chief economist at aviation consultant Ascend Worldwide Ltd. Many carriers in Europe and Asia are only starting to see the benefit from cheaper fuel as costly fuel hedges, made before crude tumbled, are replaced by ones made at more favorable rates.

“There have been a number of negative developments that have come up, but they don’t override the underlying achievement for profitability,” Mr. Morris said.

Also on the Dublin agenda is the prospect of a new cost headwind as regulators consider making carriers pay for carbon dioxide emissions.

Airlines are exempt from the global climate change deal struck in Paris last December, but pressure has been mounting on politicians and regulators to curtail the CO2 output from commercial flights. Environmental groups fret that the airline industry’s rapid growth could undermine other climate change initiatives unless limits are imposed.

The International Civil Aviation Organization, an arm of the United Nations, is trying to secure agreement on a mechanism to limit the industry’s C02 output without curtailing growth.

ICAO members pledged to improve the fuel efficiency of commercial aircraft by 2% a year and to see that any industry growth beyond 2020 won’t increase pollution. ICAO representatives convened this month to help bridge differences between member states about what the system might look like.

Exactly how much of an airline’s carbon emissions will need to be offset is still being negotiated. IATA estimates that the airline industry’s annual bill would be around $2.8 billion compared to projected profits this year of $36 billion, a forecast expected to be updated this week.

Devils Lake Regional Airport (KDVL) on track to have biggest year for passenger boardings

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com

DEVILS LAKE -- After dropping an unreliable airline and switching to an air service with direct flights to Denver, Devils Lake Regional Airport is on track to have its biggest year for boardings.

For the last five months, the airport has outpaced itself in boardings. As of the end of April, Devils Lake had boarded 1,965 passengers, a 55 percent increase from last year at that time.

The May count isn't official yet, but it should come in around 500, airport manager John Nord said.

"Right now we are ahead of schedule," he said. "The month of May, while we don't have all of the final numbers in, it will be a record month for May."

The boardings are a stark comparison to its 2012 and 2013 numbers when the airport had a contract with Great Lakes Airlines, which suspended its contract in early 2014. The airport boarded a total of 2,998 passengers in 2012, dropping off from the nearly 5,500 passengers that used the airport in 2011 before Great Lakes replaced Delta Airlines and Airlines. Great Lakes boarded even fewer passengers--2,667--in 2013.

SkyWest Airlines, which has direct flights to Denver, beat out Great Lakes for an Essential Air Service bid at Devils Lake, but it couldn't take over air service until June 2014, leaving the airport without service from February to May after Great Lakes left the airport, Nord said.

But even without those months, the airport saw a jump in boardings. Devils Lake served 2,889 passengers in 2014. Last year, that number almost doubled to 5,104 passengers.

Devils Lake is kicking a trend plaguing other airports in the state: a dramatic drop in boardings. Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport, which saw its boardings triple by the end of April 2014 compared to the previous year, lost 69 percent of its April passengers compared to the April 2015 count, the largest dip among airports in North Dakota.

The decrease is likely due to an oil slowdown amid low oil prices. At the heart of an oil boom, which boosted air traffic to the point of airports adding flights and planning for expansions, Sloulin Field International Airport in Williston boarded 10,150 passengers in April 2015, a record for that month.

But that airport also took a hit to its count, shedding almost half of its April boardings passengers in one year.

Even airports in eastern North Dakota haven't been immune to decreasing passenger numbers. Hector International Airport in Fargo boarded 133,807 passengers this year as of April, a decrease by more than 11 percent of its boardings by the end of April 2015. Grand Forks International Airport, with 48,136 boardings, lost about 3,000 passengers, or about 6 percent, in the same timeframe.

As of April, North Dakota airports have boarded 57,095 fewer passengers than last year at that time, a 14 percent decrease.

The passenger numbers for North Dakota airports may have dropped dramatically, but they are still above pre-oil boom counts, said Kyle Wanner, director of the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission.

"Each community has it's own set of challenges," he said, adding farm commodities and a low Canadian dollar is also impacting travel to North Dakota. "Today, they may have less passengers than their peak years in '14 and '13, but historically, they have incredible air service still. You kind of have to put it into perspective."

It's hard to tell if airports are losing passengers to surrounding cities, Wanner said. Some markets leak customers to others, but it's a two-way street--Grand Forks customers may drive to Devils Lake and vice versa. Customers are free to choose which airport they feel has the best deal.

"We're still very healthy as far as our passenger numbers go," he added.

Like Devils Lake, Jamestown Regional Airport has seen large increases, which Nord also attributed to SkyWest taking over for Great Lakes' Jamestown EAS contract. That airport, which flew only 2,672 passengers in 2013 when Great Lakes was its primary air service, has surpassed that yearly total in March. So far this year, the airport has boarded 3,378 passengers, up 39 percent from 2015 year-to-date numbers in April.

"Our boardings aren't based on the oil boom," Nord said. "Our boardings are based on the normal folks that finding us and realizing there is value in flying out of the Devils Lake area."

He also said free parking does attract customers, especially when most airports in the state charge for parking.

"That's a big deal for people," he said, adding many passengers are surprised when he tells them there is no charge for parking. "There isn't much left in life that is free."

The Devils Lake passenger market has increased quite a bit over the past several years, Nord said. SkyWest signed a two-year contract that will begin in July. The contract also adds another flight to the airports already 11 roundtrips.

The jump in numbers also prompted the airport to install a fueling tank for SkyWest so it can handle heavier loads, Nord said. Instead of filling up in Jamestown, SkyWest will be able to fuel in Devils Lake sometime in June.

"We're a small airport and people are still finding out about us," he said. "Once they start coming here ... I see a lot repeat passengers coming here."

Original article can be found here:  http://www.thedickinsonpress.com

Cessna 177 Cardinal, N29601: Accident occurred May 29, 2016 at Pine Bluff Regional Airport / Grider Field (KPBF), Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas

http://registry.faa.gov/N29601 

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Little Rock FSDO-11


NTSB Identification: GAA16CA266 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, May 29, 2016 in Pine Bluff, AR
Probable Cause Approval Date: 01/18/2017
Aircraft: CESSNA 177, registration: N29601
Injuries: 2 Minor.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

According to the pilot, during a flour bomb competition at a local airport, she was making a bomb run parallel to runway 18 and slowed the airplane to 80 knots, with zero flaps, mixture was rich, throttle was about 75 percent, and carburetor heat was used. About 300 feet above the ground she dropped the bag of flour. She reported that after dropping the flour, she immediately advanced the throttle to full, ensured the mixture was full rich, zero flaps, and carburetor heat was placed in the cold position, but the engine hesitated when full throttle was applied. She reported that she lowered the nose in order to increase the airspeed and made a left turn to re-enter the pattern before establishing a positive rate of climb. She recalled that when she lowered the nose, the airspeed increased to about 100 knots indicated, she turned to the left, and the airplane did not climb. She recalled that the airplane continued to descend into a cornfield, bounced, and when the airplane settled back to the ground, the left main landing gear wheel became stuck in the mud and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage.

Per the Pilot’s Aircraft Accident Report in the (NTSB Form 6120.1 rev. 2013), the pilot reported that when full throttle was applied, the heading of 180 degrees should have been maintained until adequate airspeed was attained before turning crosswind. She asserted that, if the heading of 180 degrees was maintained when full power was not achieved, the plane could have landed on the runway.

The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector that traveled to the accident site, interviewed witnesses and inspected the airplane. The Inspector reported that per the witness statements, the airplane was below the flour bomb designated minimum altitude of 200 feet above the ground and very slow. He reported that according to witnesses the aircraft stalled, lost altitude and landed in a corn field just off the airport property.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and her exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack during a low-altitude turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

According to the pilot, during a flour bomb competition at a local airport, she was making a bomb run parallel to runway 18 and slowed the airplane to 80 knots, with zero flaps, mixture was rich, throttle was about 75 percent, and carburetor heat was used. About 300 feet above the ground she dropped the bag of flour. She reported that after dropping the flour, she immediately advanced the throttle to full, ensured the mixture was full rich, zero flaps, and carburetor heat was placed in the cold position, but the engine hesitated when full throttle was applied. She reported that she lowered the nose in order to increase the airspeed and made a left turn to re-enter the pattern before establishing a positive rate of climb. She recalled that when she lowered the nose, the airspeed increased to about 100 knots indicated, she turned to the left, and the airplane did not climb. She recalled that the airplane continued to descend into a cornfield, bounced, and when the airplane settled back to the ground, the left main landing gear wheel became stuck in the mud and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage.

Per the Pilot's Aircraft Accident Report in the (NTSB Form 6120.1 rev. 2013), the pilot reported that when full throttle was applied, the heading of 180 degrees should have been maintained until adequate airspeed was attained before turning crosswind. She asserted that, if the heading of 180 degrees was maintained when full power was not achieved, the plane could have landed on the runway.

The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector that traveled to the accident site, interviewed witnesses and inspected the airplane. The Inspector reported that per the witness statements, the airplane was below the flour bomb designated minimum altitude of 200 feet above the ground and very slow. He reported that according to witnesses the aircraft stalled, lost altitude and landed in a corn field just off the airport property.


A small plane containing a mother and daughter from Georgia crashed Sunday while participating in the Black Pilots of America fly-in at Pine Bluff Regional Airport.

Airport manager Doug Hale said the plane was not carrying children but was involved in one of the weekend’s activities held every year as part of Operation Skyhook.

“They’re OK,” Hale said Monday. “They got out and walked away. They went to the hospital to get checked out and were released and in fact they flew out this morning.”

Names of the two were not immediately available.

The crash occurred at about 10 a.m. east of the runway, Hale said.

“How and why it occurred I am not going to speculate, and the FAA has been called in to investigate,” he said.

This was the 20th anniversary of the Black Pilots event in Pine Bluff, and Hale said this was the first crash that has occurred.

“That’s a pretty good safety record,” Hale said. “Our fire department responded in a timely manner and got out to where the crash was, and in fact, it’s sitting in a corn field.”

Despite the weather, Hale said the weekend was a “good one” for the annual event.

“Of course Friday was a total washout but Saturday they were able to get in most of their flying events,” he said. “On Sunday, when the rain storm hit, we were able to get 30 airplanes that were participating in the event into hangars in 30 minutes and I was really proud of the staff out here.

“We got some of them into general aviation hangars and the rest into other hangars that the owners gave us permission to use,” he said. “We’ve received many complements from the pilots today who said they were impressed with what we were able to do.”

- See more at: http://pbcommercial.com

PINE BLUFF (KATV) — At least one person was injured in a small plane crash at the Pine Bluff Regional Airport Sunday morning.

The plane was part of a Memorial Day fly-in with the Black Pilots of America Organization.

Arkansas State Police officials say two people, a woman and child, were in the plane when the crash happened.

The child was taken to an area hospital. The condition of those involved have not been released.

The FAA has been called in to investigate.

Original article can be found here:  http://katv.com

MD Helicopters MD 500E (369E) N8375F: Fatal accident occurred May 02, 2020 in Greenspoint, Harris County, Texas -and- Incident occurred May 29, 2016 in West Houston, Texas

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Lubbock, Texas

Rotorcraft crashed into an unoccupied building.

City of Houston

http://registry.faa.gov/N8375F

Date: 02-MAY-20
Time: 05:00:00Z
Regis#: N8375F
Aircraft Make: HUGHES
Aircraft Model: H500
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 1
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Activity: PUBLIC USE
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
City: HOUSTON
State: TEXAS

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. 


Jason Knox and Chase Cormier 

HOUSTON – The road to recovery is long for Houston Police officer Chase Cormier after he was critically injured in a helicopter crash that killed tactical flight officer Jason Knox.

Cormier and Knox were investigating bodies floating in a bayou Saturday when the HPD helicopter named 75 Fox spun out of control and crashed into a vacant building in north Houston, authorities said.

Knox died at the hospital and Cormier was taken into surgery. Despite their heartache, Knox’s father councilman Mike Knox shared a touching post on Facebook wishing Cormier well.

“(Jason’s wife) Keira, (mother) Helen and I are relieved to know that Chase is on the road to recovery,” Mike Knox wrote. “We are grateful for this blessing. We ask you to join us in praying for a full recovery for Chase.”

He also shared a photo of the two 35-year-olds saying they were doing what they love and “Chase has the best wingman still at his side (from) Heaven pulling for him all the way.”

Cormier’s wife said he suffered a broken back and many other injuries but is slowly improving.

The pilot told KPRC 2 Tuesday that he is in a substantial amount of pain and still has numerous surgeries to go, but he is ready for the fight ahead.

“I have a strong attitude, will and determination,” Cormier said. “I also have a strong family network, peer support within HPD and friends. I am positive and I will recover. Many things are still unknown and will have to align before I can recover.”

Cormier said he appreciates the support he is getting, but he wants “the majority of energy and support to go toward the Knox family, Keira and their beautiful young children during this trying time and for the foreseeable future.”

To donate to the Knox family, visit assisttheofficer.com.


https://www.click2houston.com








MD Helicopters MD 500E (369E) N8375F 
May 02, 2020


MD Helicopters MD 500E (369E) N8375F 
May 02, 2020

MD Helicopters MD 500E (369E) N8375F 
May 02, 2020


MD Helicopters MD 500E (369E) N8375F 
May 02, 2020


MD Helicopters MD 500E (369E) N8375F 
May 02, 2020












HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- One police officer has died and another was critically injured after a Houston Police Department helicopter crash early Saturday, May 2nd at a Greenspoint area apartment complex.

It happened just before 2 a.m. in the 17000 block of Imperial Valley near Benmar in the Greenspoint area as the crew was responding to a report of bodies in a nearby bayou.

The tactical flight officer onboard the aircraft died at Memorial Hermann Hospital, according to Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo. He's was identified as Tactical Flight Officer Jason Knox.

During a news conference, Acevedo said the pilot, identified as Senior Officer Chase Cormier, 35, was out of surgery but still severely injured.

Knox was a 35-year-old husband who had been with the police department for eight years. He was a father as well as the son of a Houston city council member.

"We're going to miss him. He had a heart of Gold," Acevedo remarked.

The chief went on the explained that officer Cormier was recovering in the hospital after having surgery for severe injuries. Cormier has been with the department for 14 years, having worked in the air support unit for three. Acevedo said he is hopeful the officer will be released from the hospital soon, but still requests prayers from the community.

Video captured from the ground shows the aircraft begin to spin out of control just before it crashed into a building at the Biscayne at Cityview apartment complex on Imperial Valley Drive. Video from SkyEye 13 showed extensive damage to the building, though no apartment units were impacted.

Acevedo made comment in regards to gunfire speculations, stating it is not uncommon for law enforcement aviation to come under fire. "Although we don't have any indication at this point, we want to start with a wide network in terms of our investigation."

Houston firefighters worked extensively to free the pilot and tactical flight officer from the wreckage after a frantic search for the aircraft when it went down.

"I want to just tell HFD that they did a phenomenal job," Acevedo said. "There was a lot of fuel that was spilled. On the scene, and you can imagine that's very flammable and when you're using instruments to try to save our officers, I think it was very heroic. Their efforts, they put their lives on the line. And as far as I'm concerned, they're in the middle of valor tonight when they were in that environment".

Federal investigators will look into what caused the helicopter to malfunction. Acevedo has suspended HPD's air operations while the investigation continues.

The rotorcraft flew under the call sign '75 Fox' and was one of four helicopters in the Houston Police Department's air operations unit.

https://abc13.com




May 29, 2016: Rotorcraft post flight inspection revealed substantial damage when struck by rifle rounds.

Date:  29-MAY-16
Time:  17:00:00Z
Regis#:  N8375F
Aircraft Make:  MD HELICOPTER
Aircraft Model:  369
Event Type:  Incident
Highest Injury:  None
Damage:  Substantial
Activity:  Public Use
Flight Phase:  UNKNOWN (UNK)
FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Houston FSDO-09
City:  HOUSTON
State:  Texas

HOUSTON, Texas -- Two people are dead and six others have been injured in a shooting in west Houston, according to the Houston Police Department, CBS affiliate KHOU reported.

One of the deceased is a suspect who was shot by a SWAT officer. The other is a citizen who was shot and killed inside a vehicle, police said.

According to authorities, the deceased civilian was in his 50s and was a customer at an auto detail shop where the suspect shot him.

Acting Police Chief Martha Montalvo said a police helicopter was also shot at with a "high-powered" weapon. KHOU reported the suspects are believed to have had high-powered weapons, AR-15s.

The HPD helicopter had five bullet strikes. Police believe the deceased suspect shot at HPD's helicopter, KHOU reported.

Read more here: http://www.cbsnews.com

Caribbean Airlines Flight Bound For John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) Returns To Norman Manley International Airport Unexpectedly, Passengers Disgruntled

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com

Scores of Caribbean Airlines passengers are now disgruntled after a flight, which departed Kingston's Norman Manley airport, was reportedly forced to return about half-hour following take-off.

The Gleaner-Power-106 news center understands that the Caribbean Airlines flight, which was bound for the John F. Kennedy International (KJFK) Airport in New York this morning, returned to Kingston due to what has been described as 'maintenance' issues.

Disgruntled passengers at the JFK airport who spoke to our news center say they were told by ground staff at the airport that the flight, BW015 which departed Kingston at 7:05 this morning, was returned due to maintenance issues.

Sophia Lewis, a relative of one of the passengers who spoke to our news center,  said passengers travelling from JFK to Norman Manley have since been told by Caribbean Airlines staff that the flight would be rescheduled for departure at 2 a.m. tomorrow. 

Attempts to reach representatives from Caribbean Airlines for comment were not successful.

Original article can be found here:  http://jamaica-gleaner.com

Boeing mulls larger engine for biggest 737 MAX-sources

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com

PARIS/NEW YORK, May 29 --   Boeing is considering a plan to put a larger engine on its biggest narrowbody airliner in an effort to blunt the runaway success of a rival Airbus jet that outsells it by four to one, industry sources said.

The U.S. planemaker would substitute a modified version of the larger and more powerful LEAP-1A engine used on Airbus's A321neo rather than the LEAP-1B used on the 737 MAX 9, they said.

That would enable Boeing to add range while lengthening the 178-seat jet to fit 12 or more extra passengers and gain a capacity advantage over the 185-seat A321neo, the sources said.

Boeing disputes its rival's claims about the strength of demand in this particular section of the market where Airbus has the most advantage. But leapfrogging Airbus's A321neo offering with more seats would hedge Boeing's position as many airlines opt for bigger planes.

However, the new plane, nicknamed 737 MAX 10 by some in the industry, would bring significant headaches.

Adding the larger engine would mean raising and possibly repositioning the landing gear and recertifying parts, costing an estimated $1-2 billion, according to industry experts.

Boeing's 737 MAX family uses the smaller LEAP engine because the plane's fuselage sits lower to the ground and must therefore have a smaller engine fan.

Having a different engine on the largest 737 could weaken the advantage of commonality with the smaller LEAP engine used on the rest of the 737 MAX fleet, but reflects a growing pragmatism in the face of lost sales.

"It doesn't matter if they are not consistent," said Adam Pilarski, senior vice president at U.S. consultancy Avitas. "They are getting killed."

The maker of the LEAP engines, CFM, which is co-owned by General Electric and France's Safran, declined to comment. A GE spokesman said there was no contractual impediment to using a larger engine for Boeing planes.

"The LEAP engine was designed to have growth capability," he said.

BRUTAL COMPETITION

Recent orders by Vietnam start-up airline VietJet illustrate the Airbus-Boeing fight for narrowbody sales. At last November's Dubai Airshow, Airbus celebrated the sale of 30 A321s to VietJet, while Boeing officials watched from the sidelines.

But last week Boeing pulled off what industry observers saw as a coup by signing an $11 billion order for 100 737 MAXs with the same airline in the presence of President Barack Obama.

Boeing's plans to boost the size of the largest MAX are one option being considered to defend its 737 franchise as it also tries to carve out a space in the middle of the market between the workhorse narrowbody 737 and big wide-body jets like the 787 Dreamliner.

Stung by Airbus's gains in orders, Boeing is pondering a mixed bag of tactical and strategic moves that, if fully made, could give it a head start in the development of the next generation of jets for production from about 2030.

Narrowbody medium-haul jets like the 737 and A320 family dominate the market by volume, with Airbus forecasting 22,900 deliveries worth $2.2 trillion over the next 20 years.

While both have sold thousands of the jets to airlines eager to cut fuel costs, Boeing's share of the market for such jets has fallen to 40 percent compared with a usual 50-50 split.

Market sources say Boeing has shown increasing willingness to compete aggressively for Airbus customers in order to claw back market share, as was evident in the VietJet deal.

"We expect to see lower pricing from Boeing on the MAX," Stuart Hatcher of valuation firm IBA told a briefing.

Boeing's tactical tinkering with the 737 also includes tweaking a smaller model to suit two key buyers. And the company's aim extends to a strategic 'middle of the market' jet, partly to replace its popular 757.

Industry sources say that project involves not one jet but two. They would have twin aisles and carry 220 and 260 people respectively, equating to what analysts see as two distinct slices of potential demand.

The smaller base model would have a range of about 4,500 nautical miles, dropping to about 3,500 for the larger variant.

Airbus has dismissed the idea, which would partially overlap with its A321neo. It argues that the history of the market is littered with small twin-aisle jets that sold poorly, including its own A310.

But it is holding in reserve a plan to retaliate with another A321 makeover, using new wings to boost performance.

Boeing declined comment on either tactical plans to defend the 737 or the longer-term mid-market studies. At $15 billion or more, it has said the latter is a difficult business case.

"We're in continuous discussions with our customers about the market. We'll make the right decisions at the right time," a spokesman said.

While Boeing's mid-market study is grabbing most industry attention, behind it lies a longer-term bid to turn the tables on Airbus in the broader market for smaller jets where both make most cash, according to industry analysts.

Although differing in size and appearance, a mid-market jet would spawn new technology and production methods that could be transferred to whatever comes after the 737, they said. 

Original article can be found here:  http://www.reuters.com

Port Columbus International Airport (KCMH) faces new hurdles to keeping passengers, planes moving this summer

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com

With the kickoff of summer travel season this week, Port Columbus officials have to juggle more variables than usual to ensure that travelers make their flights and that those flights take off on time.

The issues: Long security lines. A maintenance program that has left only one runway open. Drone incursions and bird strikes.

The federal Transportation Security Administration's staffing and performance have come under fire as hours-long waits to go through security checkpoints have plagued airports across the country, particularly the major hubs.

That kind of problem hasn't occurred at Port Columbus. Columbus Regional Airport Authority CEO Elaine Roberts said last week that the longest security wait time at Port Columbus was 53 minutes; that was early on a recent, especially busy Monday morning.

That wait was out of the ordinary for the airport. TSA regional spokesman Mark Howell said waits at Port Columbus checkpoints rarely exceed 20 minutes.

But with Port Columbus passenger traffic up more than 7 percent this year and a new airline — Frontier — beginning service this week, Roberts said Port Columbus officials are evaluating whether workers should be added from the airport's budget. They wouldn't be TSA workers, but additional airport employees could help with crowd control and other matters that could help speed lines.

Some large airports have done this to help reduce wait times, but Roberts said there is debate among airport executives nationwide about whether it is good to help "take pressure off" the feds to devote more resources to TSA staffing.

TSA officials have promised to hire an additional 768 agents across the country by mid-June. Howell said those agents, who will actually begin working over the next couple of months, probably will be allocated mostly to the big airports where delays are worst.

On another front, a few surprises also have occurred since Port Columbus closed one of its two runways April 4 for 180 days of planned heavy maintenance. Since then, mishaps have closed the remaining runway twice. Even Mother Nature played a little joke when it snowed on April 9, resulting in a brief closing while snowplows cleared the remaining runway.

"We had a lot of discussion about when to close the runway" for maintenance, said Rod Borden, chief operating officer of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. "We thought April would be pretty safe weather-wise. You just never know."

Five days after the April snow, a Southwest Airlines jet landing at Port Columbus struck a hawk, breaking a landing light. Four flights were diverted to the Dayton and Indianapolis airports while glass and other debris were cleared from the runway, which took 45 minutes.

And one week ago, a tire blowout on a small private plane ended up causing a two-hour closing of the runway, leading to a dozen diversions to other airports and several delayed departures. The longest delay was about three hours for a Delta Air Lines flight from Columbus to Atlanta.

"We expect to have a handful" of such unforeseen closures this summer, Borden told airport board members at a meeting last week.

Borden and Roberts emphasized, though, that planning and quick response to unexpected events should minimize delays. Roberts said, for example, that crews are mowing around and sweeping the runway at night rather than during the day to avoid even brief delays in takeoffs and landings.

Port Columbus also is grappling with surprises on a fairly new front. A pilot recently reported a close call with a small remote-control aircraft, also known as a drone. The incident didn't lead to an injury or flight delay, but it's being investigated by federal officials, who could levy a fine against the drone's owner.

Although travelers can't do anything to avoid delays resulting from accidents or mechanical issues, TSA and airport officials offer tips to help avoid security delays:
  • Review TSA guidelines on topics such as prohibited items, carry-on limits and rules on liquids. This information can be found at www.tsa.gov/travel/travel-tips.
  • Pack correctly, observing rules on liquids and prohibited items, and don't try to sneak through a bag that's too big to carry on. Many travelers have been doing this to try to avoid bag-check fees, but Roberts says the TSA might start cracking down on too-large bags at security checkpoints.
  • Arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes — and preferably two hours — before the flight's scheduled departure time.
  • Consider applying for TSA Pre-check, the program that gives those who are approved the ability to sail through a designated "trusted traveler" security lane. Some premium credit cards will even reimburse the $85 annual fee. See www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck.
Original article can be found here: http://www.dispatch.com

EDITORIAL: The summertime joy of flying Colorado Springs

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com

As the Memorial Day weekend kicks off a record summer of travel, think about those hourslong waits at the country's biggest airports. Contemplate the time, in security lines, that cannot be used for business, recreation or visits with family and friends. Then plan your summer flights to begin and end at the Colorado Springs Airport.

As headlines swirl about delays and other headaches at the country's largest airports, including DIA, our city's airport is increasingly known as a hub of sanity amid commotion.

Bloomberg reported Wednesday how recent three-hour TSA waits throughout the country "caused thousands of travelers to miss flights and led to hearings in Congress this week on the agency's woes." Lines have increased as recent TSA staff reductions paralleled a 9 percent increase in air travel. And that was before the summer rush began. Federal transportation officials expect air travel to climb 4 percent above normal this season, to a record of 231.1 million passengers. It all adds up to looming airport nightmares.

U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., introduced legislation to shorten airport waits with a bill title long enough to rival a TSA line. The "Safe Convenient Reliable Efficient Effective Next-Generation Functional and Secure TSA or SCREENFAST Act," breathe, gives the country's 29 largest airports responsibility to resolve security delays. It funds new equipment, including devices to speed baggage inspection, and gives airports more latitude to resolve problems with existing federal funds. If successful, this bill could take months or years to net palpable results.

"My bill addresses TSA's growing security lines and aims to find an innovative solution to streamline the security screening process so that it is more efficient, while also preserving the critical security function that must be incorporated into any legislative fix to TSA's problem," Gardner said, as quoted by Bloomberg.

As the sixth busiest airport in the country, Denver International Airport offers no relief from hourslong waits. But just a hop and skip to the south, travelers can avoid screening marathons in Colorado Springs. The airport's passenger traffic has been rising steadily for five of the past six months, but times spent waiting in lines are famously short.

"This is why some people fly out of Colorado Springs," said a headline this week in CompleteColorado.com, a statewide web portal.

The headline links to a Gazette story about airport plans to make lines even shorter, as Frontier Airlines adds flights. The airport will begin tweeting morning wait times so passengers will know what to expect, and will strive for no waits to exceed 15 minutes.

The increasingly user-friendly nature of our local airport should come as no surprise. It all began back in 2013, when then-Mayor Steve Bach and other city leaders decided the airport should stop getting crushed by DIA. Bach appointed an all-star panel of local business leaders, which included: El Pomar Foundation CEO Bill Hybl; Broadmoor Chairman Steve Bartolin; retired Air Force Gen. Victor Renuart; and University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Chancellor Pamela Shockley-Zalabak.

The panel advised refinancing and other measures to lower overhead, so the airport could afford better prices and improved customer service. The result has been more airlines offering more flights at lower prices.

Local officials, given their new competitive business plan, are seizing a prime opportunity to capitalize on a problem their giant competitors cannot quickly solve. Wise Colorado travelers will take notice, saving themselves hours by flying in and out of the Springs.

Original article can be found here: http://gazette.com/editorial

Raleigh-Durham International Airport (KRDU) seeks feedback on plans for future growth

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com

Raleigh-Durham International Airport will hold two public meetings this week to get the public’s feedback on conceptual plans that will guide the airport’s development over the next 25 years.

The Airport Authority and its consultant, Ricondo and Associates, will present nine conceptual layouts for the airport that include improvements to runways and taxiways, terminals, parking, roads, ground transportation, general aviation and other facilities.

The meetings will take place Wednesday in the Wake County Commons Building, 4011 Carya Dr. in Raleigh, and Thursday at the Durham Armory, 220 Foster St. Both meetings begin at 6 p.m.

The 18-month master planning process, called Vision2040, began last summer and is expected to be completed late this year. Feedback can be shared either in person at the meetings or afterward on the master plan website, vision2040.rdu.com.

Original article can be found heree: http://www.newsobserver.com